Marimba Duo Concert: Echoes of the East

Marimba Duo Concert: Echoes of the East

International marimba duo Hiromi Shigeno and Ernestina present Echoes of the East, a program that explores the poetic depth and expressive richness of the marimba. Rooted in their shared Asian heritage and shaped by their international artistic journeys, the two musicians bring to Europe a distinctive musical voice, one in which Eastern philosophy, nature, and tradition resonate within a contemporary concert setting. The program features several works by Keiko Abe, the pioneering Japanese composer who transformed the expressive language of the marimba. Inspired by nature, spirituality, and the subtle beauty of sound, her music reveals the instrument’s remarkable range of color and expression. From the expansive soundscape of Wind Across Mountains to the vibrant energy of Tambourin Paraphrase, the shimmering colors of Prism, and the lyrical intimacy of Breath of the Tree, the music moves between power, stillness, and imagination.

Through this program, Hiromi Shigeno and Ernestina celebrate the marimba as a bridge between cultures and artistic traditions. With deep appreciation for the instrument’s expressive possibilities, they invite the audience to experience Echoes of the East—a musical reflection that transcends borders and speaks directly to the heart.

Concert Programme

• Keiko Abe – Memories of the Seashore
• Keiko Abe – Wind Sketch
• Keiko Abe – Breath of the Tree
• Steve Reich – Nagoya Marimba

…and more

Duration: 75 minutes
Intermission: 15 minutes

Biographies

Hiromi Shigeno 

Hiromi Shigeno was born in Japan and is currently based in Germany. After receiving her bachelor’s degree from Tokyo Gakugei University, she continued her studies at the Toho Gakuen School of Music in Tokyo, where she studied marimba with the renowned marimbist Professor Keiko Abe. Since 2009, she has been living in Germany, where she further developed her artistic career and continued her percussion studies with Professor Isao Nakamura.

As a performer, she focuses primarily on the marimba and appears in a wide range of concert settings, including solo recitals, chamber music performances, and orchestral projects. Pedagogical work also forms an important part of her artistic activity. For twelve years she taught marimba at the Hochschule für Musik Karlsruhe in Germany.

Hiromi Shigeno is a prizewinner at several international marimba competitions, including the Keiko Abe Prize at the 5th World Marimba Competition in Stuttgart Germany, in 2008.

Ernestina Leung, born in Hong Kong, studied marimba performance at LUCA School of Arts in Leuven, Belgium, and the Karol Lipinski Academy of Music in Wroclaw, Poland. Inspired by Professors Ludwig Albert, Jacek Wota, and Shoko Sakai, she discovered her passion for the marimba’s extraordinary sound world. Her project Marimba Romance has been acclaimed in Hong Kong and featured at the Lilu Light Festival in Lucerne. She has performed internationally at venues including UNESCO headquarters in Paris, and across Switzerland, Belgium, Germany, Poland, and Hong Kong. Ernestina has received numerous awards, among them 2nd prize at the 10th International Music and Arts Festival Competition in Saint Petersburg, and 1st prize at the 8th Saint Petersburg Music Student Competition in 2012.