Yuuko Shiokawa, violin

Born in Tokyo, Yuuko Shiokawa began her violin studies at the age of 5. In 1958 she moved to Lima where, in addition to her studies with Eugen Cremer, she began to give concerts and build the foundation of her professional career. In 1961 she completed advanced studies with Professor Wilhelm Stross in Munich, and in 1968 began studying with Professor Sandor Vegh. At the age of 19 she won the Mendelssohn Prize and first prize from the Competition of German Music Conservatories.

Her orchestral engagements have included concerts with the Berlin Philharmonic in Berlin, Salzburg and Japan (with Karajan), Israel Philharmonic, Bavarian Radio Orchestra under Rafael Kubelik including performances of Jan Kubelik's Violin Concerto No. 6, a work which she has also performed with the London Symphony Orchestra. In America she has worked with the New York Philharmonic, Boston Symphony and Pittsburgh Symphony.

Other engagements have included a cycle of Mozart Sonatas with Bruno Canino in Munich, and the complete Mozart Piano and Violin Sonatas with Andras Schiff at the Wigmore Hall in London. In 1988 she participated in the Wigmore Hall's highly acclaimed Haydn Festival, and their Bartok/Beethoven Festival in 1991, and she also took part in the Schubert/Janacek series at the Barbican in 1994. In addition to giving regular duo recitals with Mr Schiff, she also performs in a trio with Schiff and Miklos Perenyi. Festivals in which she has appeared include Edinburgh, Luzern, Lockenhaus, Mondsee, Lichfield and Marlboro. She returns regularly to Japan for various engagements.

Miss Shiokawa's recordings include the Bach Solo Sonatas and Partitas, and the Mozart Violin Sonatas with Keiko Toyama (both for Camerata Japan). She has made several discs of Mozart repertoire using Mozart's original violin: a selection of Violin Sonatas with András Schiff; the Piano Quartets with Schiff, Erich Hobarth and Miklós Perényi (both Decca) and Piano Trios with Schiff and Perenyi (Warner/Teldec). She also appears on Schiff's Mondsee recordings performing the Bartok Violin Sonata No 1 and the Janacek Violin Sonata (Decca), and, together with Schiff and Perenyi, she has recorded the Schubert Piano Trios (Warner/Teldec).