Vocalist, pianist, and trombonist
Leader of Syncopation
Performances with the Boston Pops, Cheryl Bentyne, Carlos Kanno, Hiroyuki Noritake, and Luciana Souza
Recordings include Wonderful You, Of Blue, and A New Dance with Syncopation, as well as Orion za to Hatsukoi, Shakunage no Hana no Saku Koyo, Voice Connection, and Hug
Multiple publications through YAMAHA Music Publishing and UNC Jazz Press, among others
Music director, Boston Jazz Voices
Boston Pops Orchestrator
Collaboration with Longwood Symphony Orchestra
Vocal jazz clinician

Awards

Recipient of Best Arranger's Award, 2008 Harmony Sweepstakes
Recipient of S&R Washington Award, 2012

Education

School Name

Longy School of Music

State or Province

Massachusetts

Degree

Master of Music (MM)

Field of Study

Composition

Date Degree Received

2012
School Name

Berklee College of Music

State or Province

Massachusetts

Degree

Artist Diploma (AD)

Field of Study

Jazz Composition

Date Degree Received

2003
School Name

University of Tsukuba

Country

Japan

Degree

Bachelor of Arts (BA)

Field of Study

International Relations

Date Degree Received

1999

In Their Own Words

"I came to Berklee after establishing a career in Japan. I studied international relations in my undergrad, then I was working full-time in a boy band. I loved the experience; I learned quite a lot. I still love singing in vocal harmony. Eventually I started to feel like I do need education, especially as an arranger and composer."

"I'm teaching arranging, and I'm trying to make it as real life as possible. Today for instance I taught students how to write for drum set, and next week I'm going to bring them to the ensemble room so that they can play a real drum. Today I had them do some vocal percussion. I divided them into three groups doing the bass drum, snare drum, and hi hat, then I combined them together."

"I'm trying to get students to analyze the music all the time. For instance, if you're a vocalist you probably will not focus on where the snare drum is placed. But if you know what's going on behind you, you can sing better, and you don't have to hire an arranger. I think you can learn the most by analyzing what you like. Why do I like it? Let's try to imitate at first and then make it our own."