On March 29, the AKA Duo makes a triumphant return to Los Angeles for the Polish Music Center’s Spring Concert in USC’s Newman Recital Hall. Comprised of violinist Seina Matsuoka and pianist Yuto Kiguchi, this acclaimed Japanese ensemble has focused much of their repertoire on Polish composers. In 2023, they became the first Asian winners of the Chamber Music Competition in Rzeszów, Poland, and have garnered awards at other prestigious competitions across Europe. For the 2025 Polish Music Spring Concert at USC, AKA Duo will perform the rarely heard Sonata for Violin and Piano by I. J. Paderewski, alongside works by other Polish composers.
The PMC Spring Concert is generously supported by POLAM Federal Credit Union and the Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in Los Angeles.
SATURDAY, MARCH 29 | 4:00 PM
PMC Spring Concert: AKA Duo – Violin and piano music by Magin, Paderewski, Tansman and Weinberg
USC Newman Recital Hall – 3616 Trousdale Pkwy, Los Angeles, CA (map)
FREE admission | RSVP Required
Reception in Herklotz Courtyard to follow the concert
Campus Parking: $4/hr or $20/day (McCarthy Way Structure)
If you require assistance between parking and venue, please call 213-764-4977 for a ride
RSVP REQUIRED – FILL OUT THE FORM BELOW
Program of Works
Ignacy Jan Paderewski (1860-1941) | Sonata for Violin and Piano in A minor, Op. 13
I. Allegro con fantasia
II. Intermezzo. Andantino
III. Finale. Allegro molto quasi presto
Miłosz Magin (1929-1999) | Andante pour violon et piano (1963)
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) | 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.
