Natsumi Shibagaki (left), a freelance pianist and Ayako Yonetani (right) UCF violin and viola professor, are in Ayako’s studio, M127 in the Performing Arts Center getting ready for their performance on Thursday.
He’ven Patterson
UCF professor Ayako Yonetani and guest Natsumi Shibagaki are preparing for their annual faculty recital.
The upcoming program is a violin and piano recital, featuring works by six composers from six countries. It showcases a diverse range of musical styles and international composers.
Yonetani, a professor of violin and viola, discussed the musical challenges of preparing to perform. She noted that a piece by Charles Ives was particularly demanding to prepare.
“The Ives was challenging because Ives is an American composer, and that was challenging because it’s a new sort of language,” Yonetani said.
Yonetani is originally from Japan and came to the U.S. to go to The Juilliard School in New York City. She holds doctoral, master’s and bachelor’s degrees in violin performance. Yonetani has been teaching violin and viola at UCF for 33 years.
Shibagaki, a freelance pianist, will join Yonetani to perform these pieces. She discussed how the two began performing together.
“I occasionally come here to play with students,” Shibagaki said. “One day I was accompanying one of her students, that’s how I got to meet her, and we had some common friends. Then, I started playing for her. It’s such a wonderful experience for me to play with violists like her.”
Yonetani said she wants to leave an impact on the audience and the younger generation.
“I would like to expose younger people to classical music more and then somehow find some kind of joy,” Yonetani said. “That’s my aim for this era.”
The recital will take place Sept. 24 from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the UCF rehearsal hall. The event is free, and no prior registration is required.