Saki Kato is a Japanese classical guitarist who specialises in the areas of new music performance and community music-making. She has given concerts extensively all over the world, in solo, ensemble, and concerto performances. In 2019 she gave her debut solo recital at the Wigmore Hall for the Julian Bream Trust, which included the world premiere of Edward Cowie’s Stream and Variations. As a Julian Bream Trust scholar, Saki studied privately with Julian Bream from 2017–20.  

 

As both a soloist and a member of the Miyabi Duo, Saki regularly collaborates with composers, including Sylvia Lim and Mihailo Trandafilovski, whose pieces they premiered at the Wigmore Hall in 2021 and 2022. They have recently recorded albums of music by Edward Cowie and Mihailo Trandafilovski, both of which will be released in 2022 by Métier. In 2022 they will begin recording the complete guitar music of Timothy Bowers. 

 

Saki’s extensive community music-making work includes leading musical workshops for participants ranging from babies to elderly people living with dementia. In 2020-21 she was awarded fellowships at both Wigmore Hall Learning and Open Academy (RAM) to develop these skills. She now works regularly with organisations including Britten Pears Arts, Royal Academy of Music, and Wigmore Hall Learning. 

 

Saki graduated from the Royal Academy of Music with first class honours in 2020, having been awarded the prestigious Dove Award, the John McAslan Prize, the Timothy Gilson Guitar Prize, and the LRAM diploma. 

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Website: www.sakikatoguitar.com