Sakamoto earns prestigious honour full of history
Medicine Hat’s own Kumiko Sakamoto was a laureate at the 2023 Canadian Council Instrument Bank Competition and received a three-year loan of a rare 1820 Joannes Franciscus Pressenda violin last month.
“I feel incredibly lucky and grateful for the opportunity to play on this beautiful instrument,” she says. “Each time I get to open my case, I’m overcome with excitement, joy and gratitude. It’s such a remarkable instrument and I’m learning so much from it.
“I can’t believe all I’ve learned already in this past month, and I have three more years. It’s going to be an incredible journey with this instrument.”
The Pressenda violin Sakamoto is using was the first instrument made by the maker.
“It was a real statement, like saying this is my voice, this is who I am and who I want to be known as,” she explained. “It’s in perfect condition after all these years, which makes it even more unique. It has so much history in it, it has an incredible lineage of musicians who have played on it. It’s different pieces of wood but that wood is resonated every time it’s played.
“Each person who has played it leaves their imprint and their voice inside of this instrument. I get to be part of that now and put my own voice into the instrument, but it’s also my job to think about the history and respect that and do my best to bring that out each time I play it.”
Having the instrument is a huge responsibility and Sakamoto feels honoured the Canada Council entrusted her with it. Being involved with the competition was an in-depth process, starting with sending in recordings, videos, a CV and bio. The live audition process was the best competition Sakamoto has ever been part of. “The entire team at Canada Council made us feel welcomed and supported and we had an hour to play all the instruments in the collection before competing. Even if I hadn’t walked away with an instrument, I would have been grateful just for that time to spend with these rare and extremely valuable instruments.”
Each contestant had 20 minutes to perform from their own repertoire. This is rare as usually competitors are told what to play. During the interview portion of the audition, many questions were asked regarding dreams, goals and long-term plans. “They wanted to ensure the musician is making an impact on the community, plans to do exciting things with the instrument and will care for it,” said Sakamoto. “It was great to have a conversation with people who I respect and to share some of my ideas with.”
Once selected, Sakamoto only had 20 minutes to choose the instrument she would be with next three years. It was very overwhelming but exciting and not an experience she will easily forget. “It was kind of like choosing a Harry Potter wand. The instrument chose us. Instruments are so multifaceted. There was something about this one that really spoke to me and that I feel has a whole world of possibilities to discover.”
Added to all this, Sakamoto’s husband Christopher Whitley was also chosen by the CCIB to receive one of the instruments.
“We are the first couple to ever be in this competition. We are so lucky to have two of these violins in our household. He also plays in my string quartet (Thalea String Quartet) as the other violinist.”
Sakamoto and Whitley also play as a duo called Colour of Anyhow and feel fortunate to have selected two instruments that pair together so well.
Sakamoto is currently completing a doctorate in music performance at the University of Maryland and has commissioned composers to write pieces for her. She is looking at psycho-geography and how it affects people, and one area of focus will be her hometown.
Sakamoto will be playing the Barber Violin Concerto with the University of Maryland Symphony Orchestra on Saturday at 6 p.m., and the event will be live-streamed. She will be playing the 1820 Joannes Franciscus Pressenda violin throughout. The link for the concert is: https://theclarice.umd. edu/events/2023/barberbeach-bernstein-umd-symphony-orchestra-in-person.
For more information about Sakamoto, see kumikosakamoto.com, thaleastringquartet.com or colourofanyhow.com.