Kimiko Wakiyama – Whistler
Born in Fukuoka, Japan.
While in Music College, started the performance activity with original style ”Hikifuki” e.g. whistle while play the piano.
In 2007, Kimiko Wakiyama won the women’s grand championship at International Whistlers Convention (IWC) in North Carolina first among Japanese. In 2009, she won the Entertainer of the year. In 2014, she worked as a judge at Convention in Japan (IWC). She released a CD ”Whistling Paradise” from a major record company. Having whistling classes, releases the whistling tutorial book. Without being bound by the general image of whistling, she is thriving with performance on TV, Radio, Live, Recording and Composing. Considered one of the pioneer of the whistler in Japan. Love birds, and wanted to whistle like a bird.
Official site : http://kimikowakiyama.com/
Akiko Shibata – Whistler
Tournament Results
– IWC2008 in Japan : 2nd Place (Popular 1st Place)
– IWC2009 in U.S. : 3rd Place (Classical 1st Place)
– IWC2010 in China : 1st Place (Popular/Classical 1st Place)
– Puckerama in Japan : Puckerama of The Year (The Most Valuable Player Award)
– IWC2012 in U.S. :1st Place (Popular/Allied Art 1st Place)
Web site: http://akikoshibata.com/
Rika Mori – Pianist
She started taking piano lessons at the age of four. She studied at the Toho Gakuen Music School for Children, the Toho Gakuen Music High School, and graduated from the piano department of the Senzoku Gakuen College of Music. Received the Tateshina Kogen Music Festival Award in 1987. Performed in the Yomiuri Concert by Rookie Musicians in 1991. Mori has performed piano concertos with orchestras as a soloist since her college years. She is now active in various fields as soloist and chamber music performer, and also as an official pianist for overseas bassoon players in master classes. Studied piano with Kiyoshi Arai, Yoshiya Iwamoto and Hidemitsu Hayashi.
Her chance of playing as an accompanist in the whistlers’ recital in 2003 led her to further performances with many Japanese whistlers in the series of the “Whistlers Music Festival” since 2005. Mori performed with overseas whistlers such as Geert Chatrou, Mitch Hider and others. in the concert of 35th International Whistlers Convention 2008 in Japan. She has been enjoying extending her activities as an accompanist for many whistlers, such as in the “Whistling Festa Puckarama! 2012”.
She also worked as a judge in 2014 and 2016 for the Convention in Japan (IWC and WWC) .
Ryosuke – Whistler
Born in Tokyo, Japan. Ryosuke has been featured on radio as well as on TV and he likes to perform many different kinds of music, such as Popular, Jazz, Latin and Classical while always trying to find new possibilities for the art of whistling.
In 2008, Ryosuke was director of events for the 38th International Whistlers Convention (IWC) in Japan.
In 2010 and 2012 he organized the “Puckerama!” Whistling Festival in Japan.
In 2012 he released his CD “Baroque Whistling – Ballet Des Champs-Élysées -”.
In 2013 he won 2nd place in the Allied Arts category at the 40th International Whistlers Convention in the US.
In 2014 he again served as event director for the final the 41st International Whistlers Convention (IWC) in Japan.
In 2015 he received the Special “Allen deHart Award” for Whistling Artist of the Year and for Expanding the Awareness, Enjoyment and Respect of Musical Whistling as a Fine Art. He won 2nd place for “Hikifuki” (self-accompaniment) Division at The Masters of Musical Whistling International Festival in the US.
In 2016 he released his 2nd CD “WHISTLING FROM THE HEART”.
In 2016 he served as event producer / director / judge for The World Whistlers Convention (WWC) in Japan. This event aims to inherit the past tradition and style of the original International Whistlers Convention.
In 2017 he won 3rd place for Pre-recorded Accompaniment Division (Classical) at The Masters of Musical Whistling International Festival in the US.
In 2019 he served as head judge for The Masters of Musical Whistling International Festival (MMW) in the US.
Since April 2015, he has produced his Whistling Workshop in Tokyo and he invented some iPhone applications for the practice of whistling, called the “WhistleTuner” – useful for checking the pitch.
Web site: http://studioloro.jp/