Award-winning pianist to perform at Union Sunday

Rachel Dorroh • November 8, 2023

Award-winning pianist and Union College Assistant Professor of Music Dr. Yukiko Fujimura will perform this Sunday in Union’s Conway Boatman Chapel at 3 p.m. The performance is part of an annual concert series sponsored by the Fine Arts Association of Southeastern Kentucky and will feature a mix of composers.

 

“I'm very excited about one of the pieces, which is going to be a world premiere,” says Fujimura.

 

Dr. Matthew Herman, associate professor of music at Western Kentucky University, wrote “Sheltowee Sonata” especially for Fujimura to perform at this concert. Each of the composition’s three movements is based on a different Appalachian folksong, and Herman will be at the concert to speak about the new work.

Dr. Yukiko Fujimura.

In addition to Herman’s work, Fujimura will perform pieces by Erik Satie, Frederic Chopin, Franz Liszt, and Ryuichi Sakamoto.


Fujimura regularly performs solo and chamber music, as well as concerti with orchestra, and has received numerous awards and honors for her excellence. She has been named prize winner of the Stanislaw Moniuszko International Competition of Slavic Music, the Yokosuka International Piano Competition, the Music Teachers National Association Young Artist Performance competition in Wisconsin, the Schubert Club Competition, the Ball State University Graduate Concerto Competition, and the Slavic Music Competition for Piano and Orchestra.


In addition to her accolades as a performer, Fujimura’s innovative contributions to the field of music education have gained increasing recognition. 

“My teaching focuses on expressing through music, which is kind of a gray area that's very hard to teach,” she explains.


“So, I looked into other disciplines, including child behavioral therapy, and started using visual tools to get them to really focus on the emotional side of music.”


In October, Fujimura presented on this topic in Santiago, Chile at the XIV Latin American and VI Pan American Regional Conference of the International Society for Music Education. Her presentation “Let Them Tell a Story: Tools for Self-expression Through Music,” featured details of her collaboration with Japanese illustrator Tetsu Goto. She worked with Goto to create a set of musical emotions flashcards which will be available to music educators in the future, production pending.


“Every child can express through music,” Fujimura says. “They just need help.”

 

Fujimura has been a member of the Kentucky Music Teachers Association (KMTA) for three years and currently serves as the organization’s vice-president/president-elect. She teaches applied piano, introduction to music, and elementary school music at Union.

 

Sunday’s concert is part of the Fine Arts Association of Southeastern Kentucky, Inc.’s mission to promote and encourage the fine arts throughout Southeastern Kentucky.


Tickets are available at the door for $10. However, students, staff, and faculty of both Union College and University of the Cumberlands get in free with college i.d., as both institutions are sponsors.

 

To learn more about the Fine Arts Association of Southeastern Kentucky, see fineartsseky.org. To purchase season tickets for the concert series, see fineartsseky.org/tickets.


By Maisie Nelson October 3, 2025
Union Commonwealth University is strengthening its commitment to both students and the region by welcoming several new employees who are alumni or have strong local ties.
By Maisie Nelson September 24, 2025
Union Commonwealth University formally inaugurated Dr. D.J. Washington as its 20th president on Friday, September 19, in a ceremony that honored the institution’s history while celebrating a bold vision for its future.
By Maisie Nelson September 17, 2025
Union Commonwealth University has officially announced a bold new initiative that will make college more accessible for local students. Beginning in the 2026-2027 academic year, all graduating seniors from Knox County—including Knox Central High School, Lynn Camp High School, and Barbourville Independent.
By Maisie Nelson September 9, 2025
Union Commonwealth University will host a week of celebrations leading up to the formal installation of Dr. DJ Washington as the 20th President of the institution. The inauguration, set for Friday, September 19, will honor Union’s proud heritage while spotlighting a bold vision for its future.
s
By Maisie Nelson August 29, 2025
Union has received $780,000 from the Abandoned Mine Land Economic Revitalization (AMLER) Program to renovate a campus building into its first Live & Learn Dormitory.
By Maisie Nelson August 28, 2025
Union Commonwealth University is proud to unveil the final group of honorees in its celebrated “50 Under 50” alumni recognition program.
exterio
By Maisie Nelson August 12, 2025
Union Commonwealth University is making bold strides to strengthen and grow its academic foundation. As part of a reimagined academic structure, the University has introduced a new academic leadership team model, expanding from two colleges to four and aligning leadership roles to support innovation, accountability, an
images of the front of Shar
By Maisie Nelson August 8, 2025

Union Commonwealth University has announced a major restructuring of its academic leadership and college organization, ushering in a new era of innovation, agility, and student-focused growth under the direction of Dr. Joshua Wilkey, the university’s newly appointed Provost.
By Maisie Nelson July 29, 2025
Union Commonwealth University is proud to unveil the next group of honorees in its celebrated “50 Under 50” alumni recognition program. Now in its fourth month, the initiative continues to spotlight Union graduates under the age of 50 who are making meaningful contributions to their fields, their communities, and socie
aerial drone photo of campus overlooking football field with mountains in the background
By Maisie Nelson July 16, 2025
Union Commonwealth University is proud to announce the launch of a new corporate sponsorship initiative to support its storied athletic program and deepen partnerships with businesses across the region. The sponsorship program offers multi-tiered opportunities for companies to align their brand with Union Athletics.