Yumi, who performed for First Program on May 6, returned to Dalton this week to visit with the upper divisions. She played several of her own composed works on the Koto as well as her arrangement of the famous Japanese song “Sakura, Sakura.”

In addition, Yumi shared stories and explained the history of the Koto, including how it is constructed and played. Born and raised in Japan, Yumi began studying the Koto when she was just three years old. She received first prize at the National Japanese Koto Competition in 1989 and 1992 and earned a scholarship from The Agency for Cultural Affairs of Japan in 1998. In 2007, Yumi debuted at Carnegie Hall.