ABOUT
UTARI’s passion for Japanese percussion music has led them to tour internationally for the past ten years. Following the path of their mother Mutsuko Fujii, noted marimbist of Japan, they have been introducing Japanese percussion works at major venues in the United States, Canada, Switzerland, Croatia, Slovenia, and Taiwan. Recent appearances include a New York recital at Lincoln Center, a concert at Koerner Hall in Toronto, and showcase performances at the international PASIC percussion convention.
Utari’s mission is to introduce audiences to master works which are not known outside of Japan, many of which are written for and dedicated to Mutsuko Fujii by luminary composers Maki Ishii, Akira Miyoshi, Isao Matsushita and Akira Nishimura. In addition to music from Japan’s “golden age” of modern music, Utari actively works with and performs music by young composers who are defining the sound of the current generation.
Haruka Fujii has won international acclaim as a solo percussionist for her interpretations of contemporary music, having performed premieres of works from composers including Tan Dun, Nico Muhly, Joji Yuasa, and Maki Ishii. She has appeared in major venues across the world as a soloist, as well as chamber musician with Yo-Yo Ma’s Silk Road Ensemble, NY based quartet Line C3 Percussion Group, and The Fujii Trio. She also enjoys teaching as a frequent guest instructor at Juilliard Summer Percussion Seminar and several international percussion festivals. More
Rika Fujii is an active percussionist based in Tokyo, Japan. She performs frequently in theatrical
and orchestral settings as well as in traditional Japanese taiko drumming concerts. She has
performed internationally, including appearances at Carnegie Hall in New York, New Zealand
International Arts Festival, and the Japanese Consulate in Geneva, Switzerland. Ms. Fujii is a faculty member of the Toho Gakuen School of Music.