Yuko Uébayashi
b. 1958
Biography
Born in Kyoto, Japan, composer Yuko Uébayashi has lived in Paris since 1998, and in Luberon, in the South of France, since 2018. During her first year in France, her concert featuring a selection of her own work and the work of Jean-Michel Damase, held at the Salle Gaveau, was hailed by the renowned French composer Pierre Petit in the Figaro newspaper as an "enchanting evening". Audiences and critics around the world have praised her work, including The New York Times ("The biggest surprise of Yuko Uébayashi's work was its vintage") and the great flutist Jean Ferrandis ("For me, her works are gems and a precious gift.")
Uébayashi's works have been performed and acclaimed in Europe, including Paris (Theatre des ChampsÉlysées), Vienna (Konzerthaus), Venice (La Fenice), and London (Wigmore Hall), in the United States, including New York (Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall) and Pittsburgh (Heinz Hall), in Asia, including Tokyo (Kioi Hall), Osaka (Izumi Hall), Seoul, Beijing, Taipei, and in other cities in the world.
Many of Uébayashi's works are inspired by her connection with various prominent musicians, such as flutist Jean Ferrandis (Professor at the École Normale de la musique de Paris and CSU Fullerton), Carol Wincenc (Professor at The Juilliard School), Michel Moragues (Orchestre National de France Principal Flutist), Nobutaka Shimizu (Kyoto Symphony Orchestra Principal Flutist), flutist Seiya Ueno (Rampal Competition Winner), Wakao Keisuke (Boston Symphony Assistant Principal Oboist), Maurice Bourgue (former Orchestre de Paris Principal Oboist), cellist Dominique de Williencourt (Professor at the CRR de Paris ), pianists Emile Naoumoff (Professor at Indiana University) and Jean-Michel Damase, Тhe Escher Strings Quartet, and conductor Donatas Katkus (Vilnius Saint-Christophe Chamber Orchestra).
Her works have been featured on numerous recordings, most notably, "Four Seasons Flowing on the Lake" (Umibue Flute Orchestra), "Works of Jean-Michel Damase and Yuko Uebayashi" (Nobutaka Shimizu, JM Damase), "Works for Flute, Yuko Uebayashi" (Jean-Ferrandis, Emile Naumoff, and others), "Crystal Moment" (Seiya Ueno), "World of Oboe" (Maurice Bourgue, Keisuke Wakao), "Paths" (Mayu Izumi), "Misericordia" (Carol Wincenc, The Escher Quartet, and others).