For Natsuko Yoshimoto, violin soloist and chamber musician, music is not a job, but a vocation and a lifestyle. 'I wouldn't be me if I didn't do music,' she said.
'It's hard to describe in words, but music has a lot to do with emotions and feelings. It just touches on deeper levels for me.'
Natsuko plays first violin in Grainger Quartet, an international quartet based in Australia whose other members are violinist James Cuddeford, violist Jeremy Williams and cellist Peter Rejto.
Grainger Quartet is the Hong Kong Sinfonietta's artist associate for its 07/08 season. 'We will be working with them on many different levels. Basically the main aim is to make music together,' Natsuko said.
'I'd not heard of this set-up before. It's very exciting to be part of this new thing,' she said. 'This is a very unique situation and we'll be trying out different things, new things.'
Natsuko's musical talent was apparent from an early age. She left Japan at age 11, when she won a full scholarship to study at the Yehudi Menuhin School in England, an institution for gifted young musicians.
