Kotaro Nakano is a graduate of Tokyo University of the Arts, where he received the prestigious Doseikai Prize and performed in the university’s Newcomer Concert. A highly decorated performer, he earned second prize at both the 11th Japan Trombone Competition and the 26th and 32nd Japan Wind and Percussion Competitions, as well as first prize at the 3rd Trombone Quartet Competition in Zipangu. Nakano has studied under Masakatsu Kurita, Koichi Akiyama, and Shinji Koga, and currently serves as Associate Principal Trombonist of the Sapporo Symphony Orchestra. He is a member of the Japan XO Trombone Quartet.