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Megumi Kanda

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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 49)
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]

Early life

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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]

Current

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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]

Kanda is married to Dietrich Hemann,[9] with whom she has three children.[3]

Important Performances

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Megumi Kanda performing Amy Mills’ Red Dragonfly with the United States Army Band.[10]

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.[11]

Kanda has also appeared as a soloist at the International Trombone Festival, American Trombone Workshop, and countless other festivals.[11]

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.[12]

Books

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Kanda has published two trombone method books, The One Hundred (2015)[13], and Trombone Unlimited (2020).[14] 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

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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.[11] She has also served as a faculty member at the Eastman School of Music Community Education Division.[15]

Overcoming Adversity

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Kanda is no stranger to performance anxiety. She used to get sick before performances, and would develop painful cold sores in her mouth. “I loved playing but the side effects of performing were torturing me,” Kanda reported.[16]

During Kanda’s time at the Cleveland Institute of Music, she suffered an excruciating embouchure overuse injury. She was unable to play at all. However, her teacher, James DeSano, coached her through her injury, and back to health. Megumi now believes that her injury is “the best thing that ever happened to [her].” She developed a new appreciation for music, and a newfound love for her instrument without any outside pressure.[16]

Awards and recognition

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  • Consul General of Japan at Chicago — Certificate of Commendation, recognized for her contribution to the friendship between the United States and Japan[15]
  • Arion Foundation (Tokyo, Japan) — 2006 Recognition as one of the most influential Japanese classical artists[15]
  • Milwaukee Business Journal — 2017 Woman of Influence, Education Leadership[17]
  • International Trombone Association — 2020 International Trombone Association Award[18]

Discography

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Kanda has released three solo albums: Amazing Grace[19], Gloria[20], and Mona Lisa.[21]

Kanda is featured on the following albums (all tracks of each album, unless otherwise noted).

Release Date Album Label Notes
2 December 2002 Amazing Grace JVC Victor originally released in Japan [19]
24 March 2004 Amazing Grace Victor apparently same tracks released on DVD audio in Japan [22]
29 June 2004 Amazing Grace Albany Records re-released in US [23]
21 May 2003 Mirai: Brilliantly Classical Young Maestros of Our Time Victor released in Japan
(Kanda is only featured on track 16) [24]
23 September 2003 Gloria Victor originally released in Japan [20]
31 August 2004 Gloria Albany Records re-released in the US [25]
1 November 2004 Mona Lisa Victor released in Japan [21]
22 June 2005 Best of Ave Maria Victor released in Japan
(Kanda is only featured on track 5) [26]
21 April 2006 Magnifique Live Victor released in Japan
recorded live (3 September 2005) at Tokyo Opera City Concert Hall
(Kanda is only featured on tracks 7, 9, and 13) [27][28]

References

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  1. ^ 典拠詳細 [Details of Authority] (in Japanese). Retrieved 10 January 2011.[permanent dead link‍]
  2. ^ a b c Schmidt, Elaine (15 June 2003). "MSO Trombonist Didn't Just Slide Into Her Spot". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
  3. ^ a b "Musician Detail: Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra". Retrieved 18 December 2015.
  4. ^ "ITF 2004 : Performers: Megumi Kanda". Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 10 January 2011.
  5. ^ "Megumi Kanda Bio - ITA". Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
  6. ^ Matthew Westphal (2006-12-06). "Andreas Delfs to Step Down as Milwaukee Symphony Music Director". Playbill Arts. Retrieved 11 January 2011.
  7. ^ "Megumi Kanda | Greenhoe Trombones". www.greenhoe.com. Retrieved 2018-03-07.
  8. ^ "GC4 Tenor Trombones | Greenhoe | Greenhoe Trombones". www.greenhoe.com. Retrieved 2018-03-07.
  9. ^ Schmidt, Elaine (8 January 2011). "MSO's Kanda breaks the brass ceiling". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
  10. ^ Band, The United States Army (2015-03-21), _CMB4290, retrieved 2023-04-12
  11. ^ a b c "Megumi Kanda". Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra. 2019-09-17. Retrieved 2023-04-12.
  12. ^ Band, The United States Army (2015-03-21), CMB_2993, retrieved 2023-04-12
  13. ^ "the one hundred - Essential Works for the Symphonic Tenor Trombonist". Encore Music Publishers. Retrieved 2023-04-12.
  14. ^ "Trombone Unlimited". Encore Music Publishers. Retrieved 2023-04-12.
  15. ^ a b c Nilsson, Magnus (2020-07-07). "Megumi Kanda". International Trombone Association. Retrieved 2023-04-12.
  16. ^ a b Yeo, Doug (January 2021). "Megumi Kanda — Amazing Grace" (PDF). International Trombone Association Journal. 49 (1): 34–35.
  17. ^ Schuyler, David (June 16, 2017). "Megumi Kanda: Education Leadership". www.bizjournals.com. Retrieved 2023-04-12.
  18. ^ Nilsson, Magnus (2020-01-19). "Awards 2020". International Trombone Association. Retrieved 2023-04-12.
  19. ^ a b "Amazon.com: Amazing Grace". Retrieved 11 January 2011.
  20. ^ a b "Amazon.com: Gloria". Retrieved 11 January 2011.
  21. ^ a b "Amazon.com: Mona Lisa". Retrieved 11 January 2011.
  22. ^ "Amazon.co.jp: アメイジング・グレイス" [Amazing Grace] (in Japanese). Retrieved 11 January 2011.
  23. ^ "Amazon.com: Amazing Grace". Retrieved 11 January 2011.
  24. ^ "Amazon.co.jp: Mirai~若きマエストロたち" [Young Maestros] (in Japanese). Retrieved 11 January 2011.
  25. ^ "Amazon.com: Gloria". Retrieved 11 January 2011.
  26. ^ "Amazon.co.jp: アヴェ・マリア名曲選" [Best of Ave Maria] (in Japanese). Retrieved 11 January 2011.
  27. ^ 資料検索 - 桐朋学園大学附属図書館 [Document Search - Toho Gakuen University Libraries] (in Japanese). Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  28. ^ "Amazon.co.jp: マニフィーク・ライヴ" [Magnifique Live] (in Japanese). Retrieved 11 January 2011.
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