"He has the rare ability to express the beauty and soulfulness of the composer's music, and a deep commitment to share his love of performing with others. His joy in making music is palpable when you watch him play. Don't miss any opportunity to hear this marvelous young artist. Bravo Katsuya!"
WCRB, Classical Radio Boston
KATSUYA YUASA
A charismatic and versatile clarinetist, Katsuya Yuasa has been praised by critics as a “born performer with rare ability to express the beauty and soulfulness of the composer’s music” – and have toured in the United States, Europe, South America, and Asia as a concert soloist, recitalist, chamber musician, and orchestral player. Born in Kobe, Japan, he is presently the International Concert Artist of Mu Phi Epsilon (MPE) and Professor of Clarinet at Florida A&M University. He is a founding member of Duo Esplanade (flute, clarinet) and Cosmos New Music (flute, clarinet, violin, cello, piano). An inventive artist, he explores a wide repertoire of classical, jazz, ethnic, pop, rock, and contemporary music.
Recipient of over 20 awards and distinctions, he has been honored with long list of prizes including the Dallas Clarinet Colloquium Young Artist Competition, ENKOR International Competition, San Diego Heritage Music Festival Director’s Award, Arthur W. Foote Award (finalist), and the MPE International Competition (first clarinetist to win). As a soloist, he has been featured with numerous ensembles. Recent performance includes Debussy’s Premiere Rhapsodie with the Rio Hondo Symphony Orchestra, premiere of Frank Proto’s Paganini in Metropolis with the Boston Conservatory Wind Ensemble, Copland’s Clarinet Concerto with the Boston Conservatory Sinfonietta, the Mozart Clarinet Concerto with the Big Bend Community Orchestra, Artie Shaw Concerto with the Parma Symphony Orchestra, and midwest premiere of Daniel Freiberg’s Latin American Chronicles with the Kansas City Civic Orchestra. He will be performing Finzi Clarinet Concerto with the Southern Crescent Symphony Orchestra (Atlanta, GA) in March 2019. An active educator, he has given masterclasses at collegiate establishments in the US and overseas, most
recently at the University of Missouri Kansas City, Ithaca College, California State University at Northridge, Eastern Michigan University, Radford University, and Mimar Sinan Guzel Sanatlar Universitesi Devlet Konservatuyari in Istanbul, the most prestigious music conservatory in Turkey.
Also an avid chamber musician with large and varied repertoire, his Duo and Cosmos continually offer performances and master classes at several universities and institutions widely in southern regions. Their goal is to branch out to more community including those with limited access to the arts. He has appeared on WFSU and WGBH radios, WTXL television, Carnegie Hall, Boston Symphony Hall, Florida Flute Association, National Flute Association, the International Clarinet Association’s Festival, and toured as part of the Piatigorsky Foundation this January. Outside of his studio, Katsuya recently taught at pianoSonoma, Summer in the City Music Camp, Marching 100 Summer Band Camp, and New York Summer Music Festival.
Yuasa studied under Janet Averett for his Bachelor’s at San Jose State University and Michael Norsworthy for Master’s and Artist Diploma at the Boston Conservatory at Berklee. In addition to his busy performance schedule, he anticipates completion of doctoral degree this May with Drs. Jonathan Holden and Deborah Bish while serving as graduate teaching assistant at Florida State University. Katsuya became a Yamaha Young Performing Artist in 2014. He is a member of the International Clarinet Association, College Music Society, Chamber Music America, and MPE.
For more information about Mr. Yuasa, please visit here.