Yo Matsushita
Born in 1987, Yo Matsushita was raised in Yokohama. He has a passion for spicy food and dreams of becoming a novelist in the future.
He studied under Mr. Masato Ikegami at Senzoku Gakuen College of Music and graduated at the top of his class, also receiving the Outstanding Performance Award. After graduating from the school of Tokyo University of the Arts, Yo Matsushita continued his studies under the guidance of Mr. Tatsuya Sugawa. There, he received the Acantus Music Award and successfully completed his graduate studies.
Yo Matsushita has achieved numerous accolades throughout his career, including winning the 1st Ichinomiya Music Competition and the 4th Jean-Marie Londeix International Saxophone Competition. He secured the 2nd place in the saxophone division of the 31st Japan Wind and Percussion Competition and reached the semifinals in the 6th Adolphe Sax International Competition.
As a participant in the 2015 Agency for Cultural Affairs’ overseas short-term dispatch program, he honed his skills in Bordeaux, France. Yo has appeared as a guest soloist with various professional orchestras and wind ensembles worldwide. He actively participates in the World Saxophone Congress held in different countries, conducting masterclasses and concerts abroad. Additionally, he serves as a jury member for international competitions.
His focus lies mainly on solo performances, showcasing virtuosic skills and a wide range of repertoire. Yo Matsushita is known for his innovative projects, such as embracing the trends of the 21st century, playing C-melody saxophone, developing new techniques in contemporary music, and publishing arrangement scores. He is continually exploring new horizons in his activities across various regions in Japan.
As the leader of “Tokyo Rock’n Sax,” he flawlessly reproduces the sounds of progressive and hard rock bands using only the saxophone. He is also the baritone saxophonist for the “Panda Wind Orchestra” and serves as the executive committee chairman for the YSA, a large-scale saxophone orchestra consisting of Kanagawa residents. Additionally, he works as a part-time lecturer in the saxophone department at Senzoku Gakuen College of Music.
Recital by Yo Matsushita
Saturday, 31 May 2025, 9pm – 9:30pm
Lee Foundation Theatre
Takashi Yoshimatsu: Fuzzy Bird
I. Run, Bird
II. Sing, Bird
III. Fly, Bird
Zechariah Goh: Suite for Alto Saxophone and Piano
I. Flow
II. Alone and Distant
III. Convergence
Yo Matsushita, Alto Saxophone
Cecilia Ratna, Piano