Masuko Ushioda
Masuko Ushioda attended the Toho Gakuen Academy and the Leningrad Conservatory before embarking on a course of individual study with the celebrated Joseph Szigeti. The latter once aptly observed that it was, "the sense of style, the musical intelligence, the sincerity of her impulse, the individuality of her lovely tone that set her apart." Indeed at the early age of fourteen, she took home first prize in the Mainichi Music Contest, Japan's foremost musical event. And upon winning the Tchaikovsky Competition in 1966, the critics acclaimed her "the greatest new talent, an artist of exceptional lyricism." (Tass, Moscow)
Since her debut season in Europe and North America in 1965, she has played with most of the world's foremost orchestras. In addition to recitals in the major cities of North America and Europe, she has undertaken several tours of the former Soviet Union and South America, and performed frequently at the most important chamber music festivals. Ushioda has recorded a broad spectrum of chamber and orchestral works for the Philips and Sony labels.
Mrs. Ushioda is currently teaching at the New England Conservatory in Boston.
