She is a violist born in Nara, Japan who studied violin at Kyoto City University of the Arts. She became a member of the Kobe City Chamber Orchestra which led to her changing her interest to the viola and taking further studies in Tokyo. In 2000 she moved to the United States to continue her studies at Roosevelt University.
After becoming a member of the Eusia String Quartet the ensemble was a gold medal winner in 2001 at the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition. Also in 2001 she became a member of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra where she toured Russia and Italy. She also continued to perform as a chamber musician with other CSO members.
In 2015 she performed at Northwestern University’s Winter Chamber Music Festival with other CSO members and that same year she was appointed Principal Viola of the Philharmonia Orchestra in London, England.
Recordings she performs on includ Britten/Takemitsu by the Eusia String Quartet, Beethoven: Piano Concerto No.4/Mendelssohn Double Concerto, Elgar & Walton: Cello Concertos, Nielsen: Flute & Clarinet Concertos, Prokofiev: Symphony No. 5, Rachmaninov: Symphony No. 1 and Tchaikovsky: Swan Lake by the Philharmonia OrchestraConcerto Per Violino, Pianoforte E Quartetto D’Archi Op.21-Quartetto Per Archi Op. 35 by The Philharmonia Chamber Players and the soundtracks of Der Nussknacker Und Die Vier Reiche and On Chesil Beach.
Sources:
- https://philharmonia.co.uk/bio/yukiko-ogura/
- https://mmsf.philharmonia.co.uk/orchestra/players/18363/yukiko_ogura
- https://chicagoclassicalreview.com/2015/01/lamsma-cso-members-strike-sparks-at-winter-chamber-music-festival/
- https://cso.org/media/tours/RussiaItaly2012/
- https://www.coffeeconcerts.com/12-01-members-of-the-philharmonia-orchestra/
- https://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/a.asp?a=A6444
- https://www.discogs.com/artist/6870698-Yukiko-Ogura-2
- https://www.allmusic.com/artist/yukiko-ogura-mn0003744964/credits