Michiyo
Yagi,
20-string koto, graduated from the NHK School of Traditional Music. From
1989 to 1990 she was a Visiting Professor of Music at Wesleyan University
in Connecticut. During her tenure she premiered numerous modern compositions
for koto and lists among her musical influences American composers such
as John Cage and John Zorn. Her solo koto CD Shizuku was produced
by Zorn and released on the Tzadik label in 1999. In 2001 the koto ensemble
Paulownia Crush led by Yagi recorded Yural for BAJ Records. Under
the auspices of the Japan Foundation, she toured Russia with this ensemble
in the fall of 2004. Yagi's most recent CD Seventeen, recorded entirely
on the 17-string bass koto, was released in 2005 on the Zipangu label. Yagi
is also a member of Kokoo, led by Akikazu Nakamura. She has made frequent
appearances on Japanese TV, and has performed at international festivals
such as Moers Jazz, Bang on a Can, Musique Actuelle Victoriaville, and Archipel.
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