Karen Takaguchi
Karen Takaguchi is an international marimbist from Japan whose passion to explore marimba performance embraces marimba solo, chamber music, ensemble and marimba orchestra.
Her music journey started at five years of age by learning the piano and she began playing the marimba when she was eight years old. Thanks to the classical piano education that formed the backbone of her music for 15 years, she is able to perform the marimba with natural phrasing, colorful expression and a wide range of musicality.
Karen's Adams Gear
Her first marimba solo CD “Feel the Sunlight” was released from Fontec in 2020 and was highly praised and widely recommended by the Record Geijutsu magazine, the Band Journal and the Ongaku Gendai magazine in Japan.
As a marimba soloist, chamber music player and ensemble player, she was invited to several universities and international music festivals such as : Burapha University in Thailand; MUPA presents “Road to Asean 2012” in Thailand; Rangsit University in Thailand; the 4th International Percussion Competition of China; the International Percussion Festival in Romania; the 4th IPEA International Percussion Festival in Shanghai; and the 3rd Thailand International Percussion Festival as a lecturer, performer and jury member.
“The marimba as performed by Takaguchi has a very delicate sonority. Each note is beautifully and painstakingly polished. It is well worth it just to hear them." -Yo Goto- The Record Geijutsu magazine
"Being able to accurately express a piece of music is an essential requirement for a performer. Karen Takaguchi is a rare presence among percussionists as she grasps the appeal of the music and puts her heart and soul into how she expresses herself through the music." -Shiniti Ueno
“I’m very impressed by Karen Takaguchi’s expression of emotions and by the overall excellence of interpretation and musicianship. I believe she will keep touching our heart with her colorful play.” -Ludwig Albert
Karen Takaguchi has won several prizes including the second prize at the 11the JILA Music Competition in 2006, the first prize, Hyogo Prefecture Educational Director’s Prize and the Takahashi Pearl Prize at the 13th Kobe International Music Competition in 2008, The Best Ilijas Prize by Nebojsa Jovan Zivkovic at the International Percussion Competition in Italy in 2010, the first prize and the Paolo Serrao prize in chamber music at the 3rd European music competition in Italy in 2012. Also, after winning the first prize in the New Tenuto Competition in Belgium in 2011, she performed the concert tour “Marimba-spektakel” to premier “Marimba Concerto No.1” by Mona Ahdab with the Orkest der Lage Landen in Belgium in 2013.
Karen Takaguchi obtained her Bachelor Degree with the highest honor from Kunitachi College of Music, and was awarded the prestigious Takeoka prize, as well as a special scholarship for excellence in studies. She was also chosen to perform in the Graduation Concert, the Soloists’ Course Concert and the Yomiuri New Artists Concert.
She obtained her Post Graduate Degree in marimba solo with great distinction, and completed her Master Degree in marimba and Postgraduate Degree in chamber music with the highest distinction from The Royal Conservatory in Antwerp.She has studied under Dr. Ludwig Albert, Shinichi Ueno, Momoko Kamiya, Kazunori Momose, Shoko Araya, Michiko Takahashi and Rika Ogihara.
Currently, she is a lecturer at J.F. Oberlin University in Tokyo and Komoro high school in Nagano. She is a member of "Shiniti Ueno and Phonix Reflexion"(percussion ensemble and marimba orchestra),"Marimba Duo Fuwari", "Duo Printemps"(marimba and saxophone) and Japan Percussion Association.
Karen Takaguchi performs on an ADAMS Ludwig Albert Signature Marimba.