Vacarescu - Tsunakawa Duo (violin & piano)

(Horia Vacarescu (violin) / Chio Tsunakawa (piano)

Formed less than a year ago, the Vacarescu – Tsunakawa Duo has already had many successes and built a solid reputation. They performed at important venues such as St. Martin in the fields, St. Johns smith square, Purcell Room, Regent Hall, Linbury Theatre (Royal Opera House), Wigmore Hall and the Bucharest Athenaeum. After a successful symphonic debut in London with the Mendelssohn double concerto, they are now preparing for concerts across the UK, several European countries, a concert tour of Japan & Hong Kong, as well as recording their first CD.

A remarkable young pianist, Chiho Tsunakawa was born in Japan and began learning piano at the age of 3. When she was only 12, at the recommendation of pianist Max Yoshimura, Chiho migrated to London to study piano as a pupil of Noretta Conci-Leech – a greatest pupil of Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli. Later she became a student of Tessa Nicholson at the junior department of the Royal Academy of Music where she also took violin lessons with Carol Slater. She attended the Arts Educational School, London, before she joined the Purcell School of Music. This summer Chiho has gained her Master's degree at the Royal College of Music, under Gordon Fergus-Thompson.

Chiho has given solo performances on NHK Radio in Japan twice and her Schubert’s Trout Quintet performance at the Wigmore Hall was also broadcasted on radio in London. Chiho has been a prizewinner over 25 times in competitions, including the 1st prize for 2000 Christopher Duke Memorial award and Marlow International Concerto Competition. In February 2004, Chiho was offered to give a solo recital at the Leighton House for the Nightingale Project. Chiho performs frequently as a soloist as well as a chamber musician.

Admission: Free