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duo LEPUS

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  • Last updated:April 23, 2025
  • Note: This article is automatically translated from the original Japanese text. The author of the original work did not supervise this translation.

    Childhood friends born in the same year.

    They began playing piano under Akemi Nagasawa at the same time and grew up honing their skills together, experiencing achievements such as winning awards in the national finals of the PTNA Piano Competition Duo Division and performing concertos in Europe since childhood.

    Close both personally and professionally, they began performing as a duo in 2009, alongside their solo activities. To date, they have appeared in concerts in Tokyo, Yamanashi, Amami Oshima, and other locations.

    "Lepus" is Latin for "rabbit" and refers to the constellation "Lepus," known for its striking red light. As a lucky animal beloved worldwide, symbolizing leaps, vitality, and good fortune, the name was chosen with the wish that their music would be widely loved and its sound would resonate richly and high into the sky. (Perhaps they were born in the Year of the Rabbit...?!)

    Aiko Tominaga (Pf)

    Born in Kanagawa Prefecture.

    She began Kinoshita Ear Training and piano at age 3. At age 9, she won the Grand Prize at the Kanagawa Music Competition and performed with the Kanagawa Philharmonic Orchestra. She received awards such as the Silver Prize, Oji Prize, Senzoku Gakuen Maeda Prize, and J. Rouvier Special Prize in the PTNA Piano Competition (A2-G categories). In 2008, while still in university, she won the 6th Tokyo Music Competition (Piano Division). She studied at Tokyo College of Music High School and its Piano Performance Course as a scholarship student, then moved to Germany after graduation. In 2014, she completed the Professional Performance Course at Folkwang University of Arts in Essen, Germany, with the highest honors. In 2018, she released her solo album "Lila no Hana" (Lilac Flowers), which was selected as a semi-special recommendation by "Record Geijutsu" (Record Art). As a soloist, she has performed with orchestras such as the Japan Philharmonic Orchestra, Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra, Tokyo Symphony Orchestra, Tokyo City Philharmonic Orchestra, and Brasov Philharmonic Orchestra.

    In addition to her solo and chamber music performances, she is widely active as an advisor and judge at various competitions nationwide.

    Official Website: https://www.aikotominaga.com

    Yuna Kobayashi (Pf)

    Born in Yamanashi Prefecture. Graduated from Toho Gakuen School of Music, Department of Performance, Piano Major. Performed in the university's graduation concert. Completed studies at the Pescara Conservatory of Music in Italy. Studied under Bruno Mezzena, a distinguished disciple of Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli. Since childhood, she has won numerous awards in various competitions, including gold and silver prizes in the PTNA Competition (B-G categories), reaching the national finals. She was a CHANEL Pygmalion Days Artist for 2013. She won 1st prize at the Camillo Togni International Music Competition and the highest prize at the Luciano Luciani International Music Competition, and held well-received recitals throughout Italy. She has studied under Akemi Nagasawa, Etsuko Tasaki, Aki Kuroda, Bruno Mezzena, and Orazio Sciortino. In 2021, she released her 1st album, "Dolce Felice." Currently, she is expanding her activities as an educator, serving as a competition judge and advisor in various parts of the country. She is also a Yamanashi City Tourism Ambassador.

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