As a part of the ongoing collaborative series presented by the PMC and the Holocaust Museum LA, the AKA Duo will perform a program of historic works by Polish-Jewish composers at the Museum on March 30. The unmistakable tones of acclaimed Japanese violinist Seina Matsuoka and pianist Yuto Kiguchi will reverberate through this poignant and sonorous space in Los Angeles’s Pan-Pacific Park. The concert will be followed by a light reception with the artists.
AKA Duo’s thoughtful program for this concert will include works by Aleksander Tansman, who survived the Holocaust by obtaining a visa to the US with the help of his friend, actor Charlie Chaplin; Maurycy Moszkowski, who was one of Paderewski’s favorite contemporary composers, thanks to piano writing that was likened to that of Chopin; and Mieczysław Weinberg, who fled Nazi encroachment by way of the Soviet Union, where he was mentored by Dmitry Shostakovich and cheated death several times. The full program of works is listed below, as well as the artists’ biographies.
SUNDAY, MARCH 30 | 5:00 PM
AKA Duo – Polish-Jewish Music for Violin and Piano
Holocaust Museum LA – Liberation Gallery
100 The Grove Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90036
FREE admission | RSVP here
Reception to follow the concert
Parking is available at The Grove and on nearby streets. Details here
Program of Works
Maurycy Moszkowski (1854-1925) | Quatre Morceaux pour violon et piano, Op. 82
I. Les Nymphes
II. Caprice
III. Mélodie
IV. Humoresque
Aleksander Tansman (1897-1986) | Sonata for Violin and Piano No. 2 in D major (1919)
I. Allegro moderato
II. Mélodie slave
III. Intermezzo scherzando
IV. Finale
Mieczysław Weinberg (1919-1996) | Two Songs Without Words (1947)
I. Andantino
II. Larghetto
Mieczysław Weinberg (1919-1996) | Rhapsody on Moldavian Themes, Op. 47 no. 3
AKA Duo:
Seina Matsuoka, Violin & Yuto Kiguchi, Piano
Artist Biographies
About AKA Duo
Violinist Seina Matsuoka and pianist Yuto Kiguchi met at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna and have performed as the AKA Duo since 2018. Currently they are studying with Professor Stefan Mendl, pianist of the Vienna Piano Trio, and Professor Peter Schuhmayer, first violinist of the Artis Quartet. The AKA Duo’s repertoire focuses on violin and piano repertoire from classical and romantic literature as well as contemporary works written for this ensemble.
The AKA Duo won the First Prize and the Audience Prize at the Rospigliosi International Chamber Music Competition in Italy in 2020 and followed it in March 2023 with the First Prize and Special Prize at the Pinerolo Torino International Chamber Music Competition, one of the most important international chamber music competitions.
In July of 2023, the AKA Duo became the first Asian performers to unanimously win the First Prize, the Miłosz Magin Award and the Best Contemporary Music Performance Award at the Third International Polish Music Competition in the chamber music category. Following on this success they were invited to perform at concerts and festivals across Europe and the United States during the 2024-2025 concert season including, among others, at the Paderewski Festival in Paso Robles, California, Chopin and His Europe International Festival in Warsaw organized by the Fryderyk Chopin Institute, and the Clara’s Flower Album Festival at the Vienna Musikverein.
Violinist | Seina Matsuoka
Seina Matsuoka won the First Prize at the Szymanowski International Competition in 2023, as well as three special awards. This honor builds on her impressive competition circuit record that includes the 2013 Matsukata Hall Music Award, the 2015 ABC Newcomer Concert Best Music Award, the Second Prize at the 2015 Soji Angel Violin Competition, the 2018 Aoyama Music Award Newcomer Prize, the First Prize and Commissioned Work Prize at the First International Music Competitions at the Academy of the Performing Arts in Bratislava in 2022, and the Special Prize at the Fritz Kreisler International Competition in Vienna that same year.
Pianist | Yuto Kiguchi
Yuto Kiguchi won the Second Prize as well as the Classical Sonata Prize at the Khachaturian International Competition in June 2023. Earlier, he was awarded the Second Prize at the Scriabin International Piano Competition in Grosseto, Italy, in 2021, and was the 2020 Best Song Accompanist prizewinner at the Johannes Brahms Competition in Pörtschach, Austria. Mr. Kiguchi has performed with the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra, Okayama Philharmonic Orchestra, Sereno Chamber Orchestra, and Grosseto Symphony Orchestra among others.
Event Sponsors & Co-Organizers
