The Mifune Tsuji Trio

Renowned violinist Mifune Tsuji, pianist Paul Jackson and saxophonist Jin Theriault perform as a unique trio, playing solo and trio pieces from around the world. The three musicians have been performing together since 2012.

The eclectic programme includes two minimalist-informed works – Nicola Resanovic’s Serbian-influenced Trio for Violin, Alto Sax and Piano, and Russell Peterson’s arrangement of Changes by the supergroup Yes – André Previn’s playful Tango Song and Dance and Benjamin Britten’s Six Metamorphoses After Ovid. The concert concludes with the trio’s new arrangement of music by the Argentinian tango composer, Astor Piazzolla.

About The Mifune Trio

Mifune Tsuji (violin) was prize winner of the 1st Reina Sofia International competition in Madrid. She has performed as a soloist, and chamber music player throughout Europe, Asia, America, and Canada. She is a graduate of Tokyo University of the Arts, after which she was invited by Alberto Lysy to come to Europe to join the International Menuhin Academy in Switzerland. She became a member of the Camerata Lysy, and performed as a soloist with them on many occasions.

Mifune has performed many world-premieres for solo violin and as a soloist with various orchestras, she now specializes in contemporary music.

Mifune Tsuji has developed her style and technique under some of the world’s leading violinists and teachers: Toyoko Hattori, Yoshio Unno, Alberto Lysy, Yehudi Menuhin, and Rustislav Dubinsky. She has always strived to extend her art to its limits by close collaboration with the most outstanding and consequential modern composers - Iannis Xenakis, John Cage, Morton Feldman, Michael Nyman, Luca Francesconi, James Dashow, and Vinko Globkar. In describing the collaboration and artistry Mifune brought to his pieces, Xenakis wrote “She is a wonderful violinist allying technical mastery with an exceptional musicianship.”

Mifune Tsuji is concertmaster of Xenakis Ensemble and frequently gives solo concerts throughout Europe. She lives in England, where she teaches at Anglia Ruskin University.

Paul Jackson (piano) is Director of Music and Performance at Anglia Ruskin University. He studied music at the University of East Anglia, specialising in piano performance under John York, and conducting at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and City University with Alan Hazeldine. He has been active as an exponent of contemporary music for many years, both as pianist and conductor, and has commissioned and performed a variety of works by leading contemporary composers. For the university he conducts the Anglia Ruskin Orchestra, Anglia Ruskin Chorus, the contemporary music group Anglia Sinfonia and also Anglia Opera, which mounts bi-annual opera productions at Cambridge's Mumford Theatre. He is also Musical Director for Haslingfield Choir. When not playing, he spends much time research the music of the Australian pianist-composer, Percy Grainger!

Jin Theriault (saxophone) is a freelance saxophonist based in London. In 2011 he achieved a masters with distinction at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music & Dance in classical saxophone studying with Gerard McCrystal and Melanie Henry. Jin is often called upon to perform orchestral saxophone with professional ensembles such as Covent Garden Sinfonia whilst also performing regularly at festivals in the UK and abroad.

Throughout his career Jin has been heavily involved in music education across all ages and abilities. He has led whole class woodwind workshops with Enfield Music Service, created and led saxophone choirs in multiple schools across London, currently teaches students at Anglia Ruskin University and James Allen’s Girls’ School in Dulwich. He has tutored at Aldeburgh Young Musicians and has had students win regional and national competitions.

Jin has been performing with multi-award winning progressive brass band Perhaps Contraption for the past six years, touring Europe and the USA.