Ko-ichiro Yamamoto, one of the foremost Japanese trombonists of his generation, is a former trombonist in the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and current principal of the Seattle Symphony and Saitoukinen Orchestras. Born in Tokyo, Mr. Yamamoto began studying trombone at age 12 with his father, Mr. Tatsuo Yamamoto, and Yoshiku Hakoyama. After studying at Tokyo College of Music Senior High School, he was accepted in 1990 by the Franz Liszt Music Academy as a student of Gusztav Hoena and Sztan Tivador. While at the academy, he joined the Budapest Festival Orchestra.

He studied with Joseph Alessi, principal trombonist of the New York Philharmonic, at the Juilliard School from 1994-96. Mr. Yamamoto has won numerous awards, prizes and scholarships in Japan and abroad, including fourth place in the International Trombone Association Competition in Australia (1998), first grand prize of the Japan Wind and Percussion Competition (1991) and diploma prize at the Prague International Music Competition (1992).

Ko-ichiro has been active as a soloist and freelancer and has performed with the New York Philharmonic, MET Chamber Orchestra, as a member of the Grand Teton Music Festival Orchestra since 1997, and as music director of the Trombone Dojo since 1999.