Yoko Hirota launches new album

Sudbury pianist Yoko Hirota is launching her new CD, Voces Boreales, which translates to Northern Voices, in the next concert in the 5-Penny New Music Concerts series.

The album brings together the piano music of five distinguished Canadian composers, including Brian Cherney, Brian Current, Robert Lemay, François Morel and Laurie Radford. Three of the pieces on the program were written especially for Hirota.

Since her arrival in Sudbury in 2000, the Laurentian University piano professor has appeared in-concert locally on numerous occasions as a soloist with the Sudbury Symphony, recitalist, chamber musician, and accompanist.

She also has appeared across Ontario, toured nationally, and abroad. She is highly regarded for her finely-honed technique as well as for her bold and imaginative interpretations, a media release stated.

Voces Boreales is Hirota’s third CD. Her previous albums have won wide acclaim.

“Small is Beautiful,” an album of piano miniatures, was praised for its “pinpoint precision” in the American Record Guide, while her first album, “Schoenberg Piano Music,” was cited as an “essential track” by the music critic of the Globe and Mail.

The concert launching the album is slated for Feb. 9 at St. Peter's United Church. Showtime is 8 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at Black Cat and at the door for $20 for adults and $15 for students and seniors.