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The Japanese organist, Ai Yoshida, received her Bachelor’s degree in organ at Musashino Academia Musicae in Tokyo, under the guidance of Teruhisa Fujieda. Subsequently she moved to Germany, where she was tutored by Martin Haselböck at the Musikhochschule Lübeck. She attended numerous master-classes in Europe with renowned musicians such as Lorenzo Ghielmi, and received her Master’s degrees in both Organ and Sacred Music with the highest distinction. She is a prize-winner at international organ competitions in Maastricht in the Netherlands (1996) and Lausanne in Switzerland (2002).
From 2002 to 2006, Ai Yoshida she was the titular organist at the Morioka Civic Cultural Hall in Japan and committed to bringing organ music to a wider audience. Although she is a skilled harpsichordist too, she considers the organ her main and preferred instrument. She currently lives in Italy and and has the Japanese nationality. She performs regularly as a soloist in many international festivals featuring historical instruments in Europe and at concert halls in USA. and Japan. She is also active as a continuo playing performer and a soloist with the Orchester Wiener Akademie. She is frequently asked to perform in smaller ensembles and has collaborated with numerous orchestras and choirs.
Ai Yoshida's first CD, "Bach e l’Italia" (Weon Records 2010), recorded at the Andrea Zeni Organ in the Josefskirche of Bozen, Italy, received much international acclaim. She is currently principal organist in the Niklauskirchen of Neumarkt (Italy) and Pontresina (Switzerland). Alongside her activities as a performer, Ai is also a dedicated teacher in Italy and abroad.
Organ-Duo by Alex Gai and Ai Yoshida was foundet in 2006 in Italy, dedicated to organ music for 4 hands, 2 organs, organ soloist and organ & harpsichord with a large repertoire. The CD "Dialogo a 4 mani" (2012 Waon records) received several awards by music critics. They have already been invited to various International Organ Festivals. |
