Akiko Furuyama
Ms. Furuyama was born in Sendai, Miyagi 1988. Akiko began playing Saxophone at age of 10. When she was in junior high school, she got gold prize at North East Japan Band Competition. She has participated in numerous competitions and received tremendous acclaim at every competition.
After entering high school, Akiko studied legendary Japanese saxophone player, Mr. Tomohiko Yasuda, who was a member of “TOKYO UNION.” She joined “Sendai Junior Jazz Orchestra”, which is one of the top student big bands in Japan. With this orchestra, she appeared at many venues and festivals, like “Jazz Promenade in Sendai” and “Jozenji Street Jazz Festival” to name a few.
Akiko attended Osaka College of Music where she studied with Hidefumi Toki and Hideki Kawamua and received an Outstanding Performance Award.
Akiko has been playing with many great musicians and bands, like Hiroshi Munekiyo’s “Venus and Gentleman”, Shojiro Yokoo’s “Yokoo BB”, “Global Jazz Orchestra”, Yoshinao Yano Group. She teaches at TODO Music School, Osaka College of Music and Yamaha music school.
equipment
"I was impressed by the sound of RS Berkeley BS509, especially the rich overtone and thick warm tone, when I played for the first time. It is my great partner to produce a stable sound and play."