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The Miho & Diego Duo The Miho & Diego Duo has been boldly blending Latin and Japanese musical traditions since 2006. Both accomplished musicians in their own right, Miho Takekawa and Diego Coy came together after years of admiring each other’s work and discovering that their sounds could be combined to make something genuinely new and unique. Fittingly, the title of their debut CD, "Quenarimba", combines the names of their primary instruments, the quena, a traditional Andean flute, and the marimba. "Quenarimba" showcases their distinctive combination of warm, natural wood sounds and takes the listener on a musical trip from Japan to South America. Playing a brand of music that is truly their own and not easily categorized, the Duo’s repertoire covers an amazingly wide range of styles with an innovative approach. In the Duo’s three other CDs entitled “Blue Tree”, “Quenarimba II” and “Summer Concert In Live 2008”, they played from an extensive catalog of Andean, traditional South American folk, Brazilian, Japanese, jazz and Latin jazz compositions, as well as original compositions. The Duo has been invited to perform at festivals and Universities and venues all over Washington, Oregon and California. The Duo received their first invitation to “Japan Tour” in October, 2007, where they performed in Tokyo, Kobe, Himi, Izumo and Kumamoto. The Duo is going to return to Japan to perform again in October, 2009.
The Miho & Diego Duo makes it a primary goal to encourage cultural
understanding through music. To achieve this goal they have developed a
program that has been presented in Japan and the King County Library
System that introduces youth to Japanese and South American folk music
using involvement and participation. They also hold lecture recitals
that combine both the educational and musical aspects of South American
and Japanese music, as well as the history of marimba.
The Miho & Diego Duo’s music has been heard at Benaroya Hall, Seattle Center, University of Washington Ethnic Cultural Theatre, University of Washington Brechmin Auditorium, Japanese Garden Seattle, Seattle City Hall, Everett Community College, Green River Community College, John Stanford International School, University of Washington Tacoma, Microsoft, Pacific Lutheran University and other venues in Washington. They have been supported/sponsored by the King County Public Library System, the Seattle Public Library Immigrant & Refugee Programs, Northwest Immigrant rights Project, Washington State Refugee and Immigrant Conference, Kansai Band Association (Japan), and Seattle International Children’s Festival. The Duo has also featured on various radio stations, including, KUOW 94.9FM and KBCS 91.3FM. The Miho & Diego Duo has been a recipient of the King County 4Culture Special Program Grant 2007, 2008 and 2009, and received an artist residency though the Washington State Artist Trust’s Centrum program Port Townsend, WA. They have visited 20 different King County Public Libraries for “Once Voice – One Land”, “Holiday Songs Around the World”, and “Ready, Set and Read” programs. The Duo also performs a combination lecture/concert entitled “A Musical Trip Around the World”.
Miho Takekawa - Marimba/Piano
She has been actively encouraging cultural awareness in youth from Washington and Japan by coordinating and leading educational trips to both countries with a number of ensembles including the University of Washington Husky Marching Band, the University of Washington Wind Ensemble, Musica Grato Himi, Tamana Girls High School Band, Graham-Kapowsin High School Band, the Left Coast Brass Quintet and percussionist Tom Collier. Miho began piano study at age three and percussion study at age thirteen. She graduated from Kunitachi School of Music (Tokyo, Japan) in both percussion performance and music education and holds a master's degree in percussion performance from the University of Washington. Currently she is a member of the Pan Leggo Steel Drum Ensemble, Pan Duo, and cofounder of the marimba & Andean flute duo the Miho & Diego Duo. In Japan she formed the North Rainbow Steel Drum Group in Sapporo, and was an arranger for the Hirosaki University Steel Pan Group. Miho has earned numerous awards including, the highly competitive Boeing Scholarship at the University of Washington School of Music; a Washington State Arts Commission Fellowship; King County 4Culture Individual Artist grant; and an Artist Trust Centrum Artist Residency. She has also served a panelist for King County 4Culture Music/Art program. She is a contributing coauthor to A Composer's Insight: Thoughts, Analysis and Commentary on Contemporary Masterpieces for Wind Band (published by Meredith Music).
Diego Coy - Quena/Zampona/Guitar/Vocal
In 1994 he also contributed his craft skills of hand-made quenas and zampoña for a project called “Timpano” sponsored by Colombian government through “Funmusica”. He donated 100 quenas, 100 traverse flutes and 50 zampoñas and taught children in need how to play them. In 1996 he served as the director of “Grupo Juglares”, which was the declared winner at the “Festival José A. Morales El Socorro” in Santander, Colombia. As a prize, the group was invited to perform at the “Fiesta Latina” in South Carolina.
In 1997
he played together
with his new band members of “Viva la Musica” in Hiroshima, Japan at the
famous Flower Festival. He also performed with “Viva la Musica” as
member and director at the Festival of Tolerance in Prague, Czech
Republic. Diego has since played in Italy, France, and various cities
across the US. ________________________________________ back to top >> Testimony: I am pleased to recommend most highly the wonderful ensemble of my colleague Miho Takekawa, the Miho & Diego Duo. Ms. Takekawa plays marimba along with her collaborator, Diego Coy on Andean flutes. The duo presents a wide range of ethnic and jazz-influenced music. Their presentations enlighten as much as they entertain. The infectious rhythms, tight ensemble, shared lyricism and obvious joy of their collaboration bear the audience along on a journey of excitement, nuance and beauty. The Duo’s performance here this spring was one of the highlights of our musical season.
Quenarimba "Miho and Diego got the whole audience involved!" "The instruments were as much a part of the program as the performers! This was a wonderful program."
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