 Diana Yukawa is an award winning solo violinist and
has had 2 successful solo albums with BMG Japan. Following Diana’s debut album
she was acknowledged as one the
country’s top 10 artists. At only 23, Diana has lead an extraordinary life. Born
in Tokyo to English ballet dancer and Japanese banker just 3 weeks after the
1985 Japan Airlines disaster that took her father’s life, Diana has crossed
cultural boundaries in her personal life and is pushing to cross even further in
her professional life as a talented and much celebrated violinist.
She began learning the violin at 5 years of age and through her colourful career
to date has performed solo at such auspicious venues as St. James Piccadilly,
Cadogan Hall and Kioi Hall as well as with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra,
English Chamber Orchestra, BBC Concert Orchestra, conductors Robin Stapleton and
Grant Llewellyn, Japanese pop sensations Deen, Oscar winning composer Craig
Armstrong, to a sold-out Hollywood Bowl with Carmen Rizzo and Paul Oakenfold and
featured as a special guest for a PBS which due for broadcast across the US and
Canada in March 2009.
Diana made an enormous impact in Japan, becoming an overnight child star after
playing a memorial service for the JAL victims. Media in the country announced
her as a
music sensation and her ability has been recognised with numerous rewards such
as the prestigious International Foundation for Arts and Culture and being
appointed as soloist with the Japan Philharmonic.
Her Japanese debut album ‘La Campanella’ released in 2000 on BMG RCA became a
No.1 best seller and was released in the UK under the title ‘Elegy’ in 2001 to
rave reviews including Classic FM’s Henry Kelly. Her second album – works by
Saint-Saens with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra was released in 2001.
Diana has studied with the great master, Ruggiero Ricci, as well as such
distinguished Professors as Maurice Hasson, Hu Kun, Rodney Friend and Natasha
Boyarsky.
Diana is now creating material for her much anticipated third album and has
spent the time developing her own unique, distinctive sound – far removed from
her two previous classical albums. Teaming up with a great pool of music
producers, including Andy Wright (Massive Attack) and Craig Armstrong (Moulin
Rouge) as well as collaborations including Jeff Beck and Daniel Bedingfield -
Diana will create her brand new, innovative, modern sound.
Diana will once and for all break the common misconception that the violin is
merely a classical instrument.
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