QUARTETTO ARMONICO Gegründet 1995. Die Mitglieder absolvierten 1997 ihr Studium an der Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music, anschließend Studium Kammermusik (Streichquartett), Unterricht bei Kiyoshi Okayama und Kazuki Sawa sowie beim Tokyo String Quartet, Vermeer Quartet, Panocha Quartet, Amadeus Quartett, Alban-Berg-Quartett, Artis-Quartett und Prager Streichquartett. 1997 1. Preis und Prix Mercure bei der Internationalen Sommerakademie in Wien, 1998 Ehrenpreis beim Internationalen "Karl-Klingler"-Wettbewerb in Berlin, 1998 und 1999 Mical Music Prize beim Resonare Music Festival, Stipendium der Matsuo-Stiftung 1998 und 1999 sowie 1999 Preisträger beim Internationalen Kammermusikfestival "Allegro vivo" in Niederösterreich. 2000 2. Preis beim 8. International String Quartet Competition in London. Sayo SUGAYA, Violine Geboren 1975 in Japan. Studium bei Kazuki Sawa und Sonoko Numata. 1. Preis beim All Japan Music Competition 1992 (Osaka Junior High School division), 2. Preis beim Japan Chamber Music Competition 1996. Emi IKUTA, Violine Geboren 1974 in Japan. Studium bei Takaya Urakawa und Gerhard Bosse. 1988 1. Preis beim All Japan Music Competition (Osaka Junior High School division) und Ataka-Preis als beste Geigerin des Jahres 1996 an der Universität. Natsuko SAKAMOTO, Viola Geboren 1974 in Japan. Studium bei Kazuki Sawa und Sonoko Numata. 1992 1. Preis beim Kanagawa Music Competition (Osaka Junior High School division). Ryo KUBOTA, Violoncello Geboren 1974 in Japan. Violoncellostudium bei Hakuro Mohri. Preisträger beim Japan Viva Hall Cello Contest, 1996 solistischer Auftritt mit dem Deutschen Kammerorchester. Ataka-Preis als bester Cellist des Jahres 1996 an der Universität. QUARTETTO ARMONICO Founded in 1995. In 1997 the members graduated from the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music. Furthermore studies of chamber music (string quartet), studies with Kiyoshi Okayama and Kazuki Sawa as well as with the Tokyo String Quartet, Vermeer Quartet, Panocha Quartet, Amadeus Quartet, Alban Berg Quartet, Artis Quartet and Prague String Quartet. 1997 1st prize and Prix Mercure at the International Summer Academy in Vienna, 1998 Prize of Honour at the International "Karl Klingler" Competition in Berlin, 1998 and 1999 Mical Music Prize at the Resonare Music Festival, Scholarship of the Matsuo-Foundation 1998 and 1999. Prizewinner 1999 at the International Chamber Music Festival "Allegro vivo" in Lower Austria. 2000 2nd prize at the 8th International String Quartet Competition in London. Sayo SUGAYA, Violin Born in Japan in 1975. Studies with Kazuki Sawa and Sonoko Numata. 1st prize at the Japanese National Music Competition 1992 (Osaka Junior High School division), 2nd prize at the Japan Chamber Music Competition 1996. Emi IKUTA, Violin Born in Japan in 1974. Studies with Takaya Urakawa and Gerhard Bosse. 1988 1st prize at the Japanese National Music Competition (Osaka Junior High School division) and Ataka Prize as "Best Violin Player of the Year" 1996 at the University. Natsuko SAKAMOTO, Viola Born in Japan in 1974. Studies with Kazuki Sawa and Sonoko Numata. 1992 1st prize at the Kanagawa Music Competition (Osaka Junior High School division). Ryo KUBOTA, Violoncello Born in Japan in 1974. Violoncello studies with Hakuro Mohri. Prizewinner at the Japan Viva Hall Cello Contest, 1996 performance as soloist with the Deutsche Kammerorchester. Ataka Prize as "Best Cellist of the Year" 1996 at the University. .