Kuniko Kato is the one of the most promising young percussionists in the world today. Specializing both in marimba and percussions, she studied under Keiko Abe for marimba, Yoshitaka Kobayashi and Kyoichi Sano for percussion at Toho Gakuen School of Music in Tokyo, Japan. While studying, she performed with Toho Gakuen Orchestra conducted by Kazuyoshi Akiyama as a soloist for "Concert for marimba and string orchestra" written by Akira Miyoshi.

After graduating from Toho, Kato entered Rotterdam Conservatorium in the Netherlands and studied percussion under Robert Van Sice. She was conferred "Cum Laude" upon graduation, at which time she was the first percussionist to receive such degree.

In 1997 Kato took part in the recording of James Wood's Marimba concert in London where she was highly recognized as a performer on the NMC label, as well as a live BBC broadcast at the 2001 Hudderfield Festival. Her first solo CD was released in Japan in Oct. of 1999 on the alacarte cie label. To date she been sought out to perform and collaborate in many recording sessions with various world-renowned composers, players, and chamber groups.

In addition to solo engagements in Japan, Europe, and the U.S, Kato has been selected as an active member of Saito Kinen Orchestra by strong recommendation of Seiji Ozawa, Ensemble ICTUS (Belgium), and Ensemble NOMAD (Tokyo). Recently she has performed at the Yatsugatake Kogen Festival (directed by Toru Takemitsu), Saito Kinen Festival (directed & conducted by Seiji Ozawa, 2000 U.S. tour), the Mito chamber orchestra (directed & conducted by Seiji Ozawa, 2001 Europe tour), ARS MUSICA Festival (Belgium), Oxford Festival (U.K.), International de Percussione 1999 (Mexico), EXPO 2000 in Hanover, BAM New York Dance Festival 2001, PASIC 2000 in Dallas (New Music/Research Day "Time for Marimba"), PASIC 2001 in Nashville, among others. She has collaborated with dance and theatre organizations, notably Drumming by Steve Reich with ICTUS & ROSAS at BAM New York Dance Festival 2001.

Awards include:
2nd prize, 7th Japan Wind and Percussion Competition (1990)
2nd prize, International Leigh Howard Stevens Marimba Competition (1995)
"Kranichstein Musikpreis", Darmstadt (1996)

She is an international endorsement artist of Pearl Musical Instrument & ADAMS Musical Instrument in North America, European Union, and Japan.