Dr. Yutaka Kono is currently Assistant Professor of Tuba and Euphonium at Texas A&M University-Kingsville, and the Assistant Conductor of the Kingsville Symphony Orchestra (TX). He earned a Doctor of Musical Arts Degree in Tuba performance from The University of Texas at Austin, a Master of Music in Tuba performance from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities and a Bachelor of Music from Bowling Green State University in Ohio. Dr. Kono studied tuba with Steven Bryant, Ivan Hammond and Ross Tolbert and studied conducting with Jerry Junkin and Mark Kelly. He previously taught at The University of Texas at San Antonio and the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor in Belton, Texas.Dr. Kono has been active with the Kingsville Symphony Orchestra since its inception in 2005 as both the assistant conductor and vice president of the board. His responsibilities include orchestra rehearsals until the arrival of guest conductors as well as day-to-day operations of the orchestra alongside the other board members.
Dr. Kono is a highly active performer on tuba. As a soloist, he is the winner of the concerto competition held at the University of Minnesota and performed with several orchestras and bands in Ohio, Minnesota and Texas. As a chamber musician, Kono performed with the Austin Symphony Brass Quintet, Austin City Brass, Austin Brass Ensemble, and a jazz ensemble--Tina Marsh’s Creative Opportunity Orchestra. His orchestral credits include the San Antonio Symphony Orchestra, Austin Symphony Orchestra, New Texas Music Festival Orchestra, Bowling Green Symphony Orchestra, Perrysburg Symphony Orchestra and many others.Recent conducting highlights include the World Premiere performance of Flight by Marcus Karl Maroney with the Texas A&M University-Kingsville Flute Choir and the KSO Chamber Orchestra Concert in March, 2008.
His transcription of Fugue by J.S. Bach for tuba-euphonium quartet has been published from the Tuba-Euphonium Press. BVD Press will publish Dr. Kono’s transcription of Trois Chanson by Claude Debussy for brass quintet in this coming month. He is a member of ITEA, TMEA, Pi Kappa Lambda, and the College Music Society.