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Megumi Kanda

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Born (1975-11-09) November 9, 1975 (age 50)
Tokyo, Japan
OccupationMusician
Megumi Kanda
神田めぐみ
photo of Kanda, taken in the atrium of the Marcus Center (Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA) following her performance with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra on 2011-01-14
Megumi Kanda after an MSO performance in 2011
Born (1975-11-09) November 9, 1975 (age 50)
Tokyo, Japan
EducationBachelor of Music
Alma materCleveland Institute of Music
OccupationMusician
Years active1997 – present
OrganizationMSO
SpouseDietrich Hemann
Children3

Megumi Kanda (神田めぐみ) (born November 9, 1975) is a Japanese trombone performer.[1]

Kanda began playing trombone at the age of 10 in Tokyo, Japan. She attended the Toho High School of Music, where she won first prize in a Japanese national competition.[2] After high school, she moved to the United States and earned a Bachelor of Music from the Cleveland Institute of Music where she studied with James DeSano, principal trombone of the Cleveland Orchestra.[3][4] She was first hired as a professional trombonist by the Albany Symphony Orchestra in 1997, and then worked for the Rochester Philharmonic.[2] From 2004 to 2008, she served on the board of directors for the International Trombone Association.[5]

Career

Kanda is currently the principal trombonist with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra (MSO) in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, a position she won in 2002 (out of a field of 76 applicants for the position, only seven of whom were female).[2] Andreas Delfs was the music director of the MSO at the time.[6]

Megumi Kanda is a Greenhoe Trombones Artist and Clinician.[7] The Greenhoe Trombones company was founded by her (retired) colleague in the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Gary Greenhoe. Kanda plays a Greenhoe GC4-1R Tenor Trombone.[8]

Important Performances

Megumi Kanda performing Amy Mills’ Red Dragonfly with the United States Army Band.[9]

Kanda has performed as a featured soloist with the following ensembles: Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Pershing’s Own Army Band, the US Army Field Band, and the Prague Chamber Orchestra.[10]

Kanda has also appeared as a soloist at the International Trombone Festival, American Trombone Workshop, and countless other festivals.[10]

Kanda has premiered works that were written for her by the composers Amy Mills, Bruce Stark, and Geoffrey Gordon.

Megumi Kanda with conductor 1LT Joel DuBois and composer Amy Mills.[11]

Books

Kanda has published two trombone method books, The One Hundred (2015)[12], and Trombone Unlimited (2020).[13] Her first book, The One Hundred, is an extensive book of common trombone excerpts. She also includes her own commentary on these excerpts. Her second, and most recent book, Trombone Unlimited, is a detailed method book that aids in technical and musical studies.

Teaching

Kanda has served as a guest faculty member at music institutions including the New World Symphony, National Youth Orchestra, Interlochen Arts Academy, and many more.[10] She has also served as a faculty member at the Eastman School of Music Community Education Division.[14]

Personal life

Kanda is married to Dietrich Hemann,[15] with whom she has three children.[3]

Awards and recognition

Discography

References

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