New York–based percussionist Yuri Yamashita has performed across a wide spectrum of musical genres and has been praised as “brilliant” (Financial Times), and “a standout” (Los Angeles Times). Currently, she is the percussionist for David Byrne’s Who Is the Sky? tour.
As a soloist, Yamashita has performed Tan Dun’s Water Concerto with the Seattle Symphony, Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, and Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra.
Yamashita has appeared on major national media, including NPR’s Tiny Desk Concerts, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, the 75th Tony Awards, and NBC’s Fourth of July Fireworks Spectacular and has been featured on PBS’s ALL ARTS.
As an orchestral musician, Yamashita has performed with the American Composers Orchestra, American Symphony Orchestra, and New Jersey Symphony, among others. She has also appeared as an on-stage or featured percussionist with the Metropolitan Opera, Santa Fe Opera, Vancouver Opera, the Munich Philharmonic, Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, and the Shanghai Philharmonic.
Her collaborations span a wide range of contemporary and popular music, including work with David Byrne, Tyondai Braxton, Tan Dun, David Lang, Bang on a Can’s Asphalt Orchestra, David T. Little, Alarm Will Sound, and Duran Duran, among others.
On Broadway, Yamashita has held percussion chairs for TINA: The Tina Turner Musical, Here Lies Love, and The Great Gatsby.
In addition to percussion, Yamashita is actively developing a vocal project focused on Brazilian music. A native of Takarazuka, Japan, she is a graduate of the Juilliard School, Mannes College of Music, and Kobe College (Japan). She has taught a master class at New York University and serves on the percussion faculty at the Special Music School High School of the Kaufman Music Center in New York City. She is a Dragonfly percussion artist.
February 2026
Please note: Biographies are based on information provided to the CSOA by the artists or their representatives. More current information may be available on websites of the artists or their management.
