MAKIKO HIRATA

8450 Cambridge Street, Apt. 2140, Houston, TX 77054

(917)287-1356 / mh18@rice.edu

EDUCATION

2010-present    Rice University, Shepherd School of Music (DMA in Piano Performance expected 2015)

                        Doctoral fellowship recipient

                                    Principal teacher: Brian Connelly

                                    Doctoral advisor: Richard Lavenda

                                    Conducting studies with Larry Rachleff, and David Cho

                                    Chamber music with Brian Connelly

                                    Pedagogy with Robert Roux, and Richard Lavenda

                                    Courses in analysis, musicology, piano, career skills, classroom pedagogy.

2006-2010       Colburn School Conservatory of Music (Artist Diploma in Piano Performance)

                                    Principal teacher: John Perry

                                    Conducting studies with Maxim Eshkenazy, Yehuda Gilad, and Jorge Mester

Chamber music with Ronald Leonard, Paul Coletti, Alan Vogel, Arnold Steinhardt and John Perry

                                    Career Development Course with Edna Landau

1998-2000           New York University, Steinhardt School (MA in Piano Performance)

                            Recipient -Outstanding Studies in Graduate Piano Performance Award

                                    Principal teacher: Miyoko Nakaya-Lotto

Courses in analysis, musicology, film music, contemporary ensemble, music criticism and composition

1993-1997       Manhattan School of Music (BM in Piano Performance)

                        Recipient - Manhattan School of Music President’s Award

                        Dean’s list; 1993, 1994 and1995

                        Winner, Manhattan School of Music Concerto Competition, 1994, and 1995

                                    Principal teacher: Sara Davis Buechner

                                    Chamber music with Jeanne Baxtresser, David Krakauer, and David Geber

                                    Courses in analysis, musicology, psychology of music, and composition

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

2014-               Lone Star College – CyFair Campus

                        Music Fundamentals Instructor (Fall, 2014)

2011-2013           Rice University - Shepherd School of Music

Aural Skills Instructor

-          Teaching aural skills, including solfege, sight-reading, and dictations

Music Theory for Non-Music Majors Instructor

2008-2010       Colburn School Conservatory of Music

Teaching assistant to John Perry

-          Follow-up lessons and mentoring of undergraduate students in the studio

-          Running the weekly studio class during Prof. Perry’s absence

2002-2006       Nara International Music Academy, Japan

Assistant professor for the summer institute

-          Chamber music coaching

-          Translations of lessons and master classes

-          Accompanying

1998-2000       New York University

Adjunct Faculty

-          Private Piano lessons for non-piano, music majors, and non-music majors

-          Keyboard Skills (sight-reading, transposition, clef readings, and score readings) for:

piano performance majors;

-          Secondary Piano classes for undergrad non-piano, music majors

-          Group Piano Classes for Non-music majors;

-          Music Fundamentals

CREATIVE PROJECTS

Summer, 2013             Presentation at International Comparative Literature Association Conference

-          “Orientalism in Prokofiev’s Love for Three Oranges”

Spring, 2012    Production of Youtube Series “Poco Piano”

-           introductory talks and demonstrations about classical music

-          http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSSiNPYMS8CRThdhVztL-8w

March, 2013    A Commission and World Premiere

-          “Animus non Regimus” for Bb Cl. Vc & pf (2013) by Christopher Walczak

Spring, 2012    Stepping Stones between Dance and Music

-          Workshop of discussions and experiments between dancers and musicians

-          Funded by Sviatoslav Richter Fund for Music Outreach

-          In collaboration with the dance company, Hope Stone, Inc.

Spring, 2011    Japan Relief Benefit Concert for the Earthquake/Tsunami Victims

-          Houston: in collaboration with Rice University, Japanese Association of Greater Houston, and River Oaks Chamber Orchestra

-          Los Angeles: in collaboration with Aurora Foundation, Cultural News, Mellins Production, Nikkan San, Ntb, and Parachute Graphics.

-          Japan: in collaboration with Sound Wave, Inc., and Sukapia,

2010-11                       TV Program “Piano no Jikan (Time for Piano)”

-          Newfield Television Broadcasting (Ntb) KXLA channel 44.1

-          Introductory talk about classical music and demonstration at the piano in Japanese

RECENT PERFORMANCE HIGHLIGHTS

August, 2014   Inaugural Concert for Texas New Music Ensemble, Studio 101, Houston TX.

July, 2014            Four Recitals in Japan “Chopin to Japan”: Chopin, Scriabin, Debussy, Takemitsu and Kosaku Yamada

March, 2014        Prokofiev Piano Concerto No. 3 with Spectrum Symphony of NYC and David Grunberg, conductor

July, 2013            “Oriental Expression – The Orient in Piano Repertoire” at Cité Internationale, Maison du Japon, Paris.

July, 2013            Five recitals in Japan “Playing the Orient on the Piano”

March, 2013        World Premiere “Four Basho Haikai for Violin, Percussion and Harpsichord” by Robert Gross at Syzygy Concert in Houson, TX.

August, 2013       Six Recitals in Japan “Painting with Sound: Mussorgsky vs. Debussy”. 

April, 2012      Couleurs de la cité célestefor solo piano and chamber orchestra with Shepherd                 School Symphony Orchestra and David Cho, conductor

November, 2011 Syzygy (contemporary music series at Rice University) “Album Leaves” for solo             piano by visiting composer, Steven Stucky

May-June 2011    Five recitals in Japan “An Eternal Masterpiece, Goldberg Variations and The Sonata by Bicentennial Composer, Liszt”

March, 2011    Honors Students Performance Series, at Coolidge Auditorium, Library of Congress

August, 2010   Boston Symphony Orchestra Preview Concert

                        Piano Trio No. 1 in D Minor, op. 63 by Schumann

August, 2010  Tanglewood Festival of Contemporary Music

                        “Traces” by Augusta Read Thomas

May-June, 2010 Seven recitals in Japan “Celebrating Centennial Composers”

Sonata in C by W. F. Bach, Kinderszenen Op. 15 by Schumann, excerpts from Suites Excursions Op. 20 and Souverniers Op. 28, by Barber, and Three Nocturnes, Op. 9, Four Mazurukas, Op. 17 & Fantasy, Op. 49 by Chopin.     

November, 2009 Four Recitals in Japan “Viennese Dissonances as Reflection of History”

Mozart Minuet in D K. 355, Eine Kleine Gigue K. 574, Beethoven “Les Adieux” Op. 81a, Schubert Sonata in C Minor, D. 958, Berg Sonata, Op. 1

August, 2009   Tanglewood Festival of Contemporary Music

                        “Boulez is Alive” for solo piano by Judd Greenstein

July, 2009        Tanglewood Music Center

                        Piano Trio No. 2 in C Minor, Op. 66 by Mendelssohn

May-June, 2009 Four Recitals in Japan “Compare and Contrast”.

                        Beethoven Rondo in C Major, Op. 51-1, Mozart Rondo in A Minor, K. 511

                        Debussy Images, Book I, Ravel Valses nobles et sentimentales

February, 2009            The Colburn School Conservatory Orchestra Leon Fleisher conductor

                        Rachmaninoff Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43

October, 2008 New York Concert Artists and Associates Series

                        Esa-Pekka Salonen Dichotomie

August, 2008   Solo Recitals in Japan “’Hammerklaiver’ – the ultimate piano sonata”

Scarlatti Sonatas, Haydn Sonata in E-Flat Major Hob. XVI/49, Beethoven Sonata, Op. 106 “Hammerklavier”

May, 2008           Four Solo Recitals in Japan “The Early and Late Beethoven and Brahms”,

                        Beethoven, Sonata in F Minor, Op. 2-1, Six Bagatelle Op. 126

                        Brahms, Sonata No. 3, Op. 5, Brahms Klavierstucke, Op. 119

November, 2007         Colburn Chamber Music Society

Brahms Piano Quartet No. 1 in G Minor, Op. 25 with Hagai Shaham (vln), Juan Miguel Hernandez (vla) and Ronald Leonard (vc)

August, 2007   Gijon International Piano Festival Orchestra Concert

                        The first piano part in Le carnaval des animaux by Saint-Saens

OTHER PERFORMANCE HIGHLIGHTS

2003-2006       Cellist, Andre Emelianoff – duo performances

2006                Romanian Arad Philharmonic, US. Tour (CA, PA, MA, NM, AZ, and CO)

7 performances of Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 2 in B-Flat Major, Op. 19

1998-2004       Clarinetist, David Krakauer, duo performances

2002-2004       Polish Philharmonic Resovia,

-2 U.S. tours

9 performances of Chopin Concerto No. 1 Op. 11, 11 performances of No. 2 Op. 21

-3 concerts in Poland

3 performances of Schumann Concerto Op. 54

2001-2003       Pecs Hungarian Symphony, 4 U.S. tours and 3 concerts in Hungary

Bach Concerto in D Minor, BWV 1052,

Beethoven Concerti No. 2 Op. 19 and No. 5 Op. 73 “Emperor”,

Chopin Concerto No. 2 in F minor Op. 21,

Mozart Concerti No. 20 K. 466, No. 23 K. 488, and No. 24 K. 491

1996-2000       Pianist, Sara Davis Buechner – duo performances

Jupiter Symphony Orchestra concert series,

New York University Faculty Concert,

NYC summer outdoor concert series.

1998-2001       Jupiter Symphony Orchestra, New York City

Debussy Fantaisie for Piano and Orchestra,

Godard Piano Concerto No. 1 Op. 31,

Lalo Piano Concerto Op. 16,

Pleyel Double Concerto for Piano and Violin,

Respighi Concerto a cinque,

Smith, Kyle Variations on a Theme of Schubert for Piano and Orchestra (world premiere in 1999),

Tovey, Donald Francis Piano Concerto, Op. 15,

1998                Solo Recital in Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall presented by Living Arts, Inc.

Bach excerpts from Inventions and Well-Tempered Clavier, Ravel Suite Miroirs, Mompou, Variations sur un theme de Chopin, Chopin Barcarolle, Op. 60

1997                Manhattan School of Music Philharmonic

                        Barber Piano Concerto, Op. 38

COMMERCIAL RECORDINGS

2014    “Chopin to Japan” (Co-produced and engineered by Patrych Sound Studio)

Mazurukas by Scriabin (Op. 3-7) Chopin (Op. 59), and Debussy:

Nocturnes by Chopin (Op. 27), Scriabin (Op. 9-2), Debussy and Kosaku Yamada (Two Pieces for Scriabin): “Blue Flame” By Yamada Kosaku, “Vers la Flamme” By Scriabin, La plus que lente by Debussy and “Lento Misterioso” from Litany by Takemitsu

2014    “Traces” for solo piano on Augusta Read Thomas Chamber & Piano Works (Nimbus                    Alliance)

2011    “Goldberg Variations” (Produced and engineered by Patrych Sound Studio)         

2009    “Hammerklaiver” (Produced and engineered by Patrych Sound Studio)

D. Scarlatti Sonatas in D Minor K. 5 and D Major, K. 119, Beethoven Sonata No. 29 Op. 106 “Hammerklavier”, and Esa-Pekka Salonen Dichotomie

2007    “Etudes, Seriously” (Produced and engineered by Patrych Sound Studio)

J.S. Bach Prelude and Fugue IV in C-Sharp Minor, BWV 819, Beethoven Sonata No. 22 Op. 54, Chopin Etudes, Op. 10-4 & Op. 10-12, Liszt Three Concert Etudes S. 114, Debussy from Douze Etudes, No. 1, 2 & 7, Rachmaninoff Etude-Tableaux Op. 39-5, and Elegie Op. 3-1, Prokofiev Four Etudes, Op. 2

2005   “Makiko Hirata plays Haydn, Schubert, and Franck”(Produced by Sound Wave, Inc.

       Joe Patrych, recording engineer) Haydn Sonata No. 59 Hob. XVI/49, Schubert Sonata No.

16 D. 845, Franck Prelude, Chorale and Fugue

2002    “Early Piano Works by M. Ravel”(Produced and engineered by Patrych Sound Studio)

Menuet sur le nom d’Haydn, Serenade Grotesque, Pavane pour une Infante Defunte, Jeux d’eau, Suite “Miroirs”

OTHER WORK EXPERIENCE

2014-present    Texas New Music Ensemble – Founding Member

-          A non-profit organization to present contemporary music by Texas based composers performed by Texas based musicians.

2011-present    “Sukapia” - Founding Member

-          Regular host on “Sukapia”: classical music radio program on Yokosuka Blue Shonan FM 78.5

-          Regular appearance on the annual Summer Multi-Piano Festival (music for four to sixteen hands)

-          Judging the annually-held “Sukapia Audition” Junior and Senior category

2008-2010New York Concert Artists & Associates

-          An “International Artists” on the roaster for their concert series

performances in various venues in NYC, and anticipated future performances

-          Artistic Board member

semi-annual meetings and discussions regarding the organization’s mission and activities

2000-2007       The Juilliard School

-          staff accompanist (instrumental)

accompanying student’s lessons, studio and master classes, competitions and recitals

appearances on faculty recitals, and school related outside performances

1996-2006       Jupiter Symphony Orchestra, NYC

-          staff pianist

-          regular appearance as the concerto soloist

-          piano parts in the orchestra

CONDUCTING EXPERIENCE

2011                The Campanile Orchestra –Assistant Conductor (Rice University’s non-music                major orchestra)

2010                The Shepherd School of Music Conductor for a performance of Hindemith’s Der          Schwanendreher for Molly Gabrian’s DMA Concerto recital.

2008-2010       The Colburn School Conservatory Orchestra – Assistant Conductor

2006-2010       The Colburn School Outreach Orchestra – Conductor

AWARDS and HONORS

2010-2011       Da Camera of Houston, Young Artists Program Fellowship

-          outreach concerts in public schools, retirement houses and hospitals

-          concerts at unconventional venues such as contemporary art museums and office buildings

2009 and 2010            Tanglewood Music Center, Fellowship

-          collaboration with vocal and instrumental fellows,

-          coaching and master classes with Emanuel Ax, Garrick Ohlsson, Peter Serkin, James Levine, Stephanie Blythe, Norman Fisher, and many others

-          orchestra piano, conducted by Leonard Slatkin, Christoph von Dohnanyi, among others

-          collaborations with composers

2009                    Just Plain Folks Album Awards

-          Nomination for the album Etudes, Seriously, Classical Solo Album Category

PUBLICATIONS AND CITATIONS

2011  Fukunaka, Kotoko “Music, An Adventure to the Unknown – Music from Japan   Chronicle”, Kozui Kikaku Press

2011  Hirata, Makiko “What We as Japanese Living Abroad Can Do to Aid the Continuous

      Relief Efforts in Japan” El NEOS, July, 2011 Issue: P. 104-105

2009  Yoshihara, Mari “Piano Time – My Favorite Album Top 3.” The Thinkers, April, 2009

      Issue: P. 122-123, Shinchosha Publishing Co., Ltd. Tokyo, Japan

2007  “Musicians from a Different Shore – Asians and Asian Americans in Classical Music” by

      Mari Yoshihara, Temple University Press

2003  Hirata, Makiko “Listen to My Piano”, Apple Friends, Asahi Newspapers Co.

RECENT COLLABORATION WITH COMPOSERS

2013    Sukhi Kang “Piano Sketch No. 1”

at Cité Internationale, Maison du Japon, Paris and in Japan

2013    Gross, Robert “Four Basho Haikai for Violin, Percussion and Harpsichord”

            World Premier at Syzygy concert in Duncan Hall, Rice University in Houston, TX

2013    Walczak, Christopher “Animus non Regimus” for B-flat Clarinet, Cello and Piano

            Commissioned and premiered in Duncan Hall, Rice University in Houston, TX

2011    Steven Stucky “Album Leaves”

            Syzygy concert in Duncan Hall, Rice University, in Houston, TX.

2011    Halka, Charles “Round and Round” for piano four-hands, violin and ‘cello.

            World Premier in Coolidge Auditorium at the Library of Congress, Washington D.C.

2010    Reed, Augusta Thomas, “Traces” for solo piano

            Tanglewood Music Center, Festival of Contemporary Music,

2009    Judd Greenstein “Boulez is Alive” for solo piano

Tanglewood Music Center, Festival of Contemporary Music

2008    Esa-Pekka Salonen “Dichotomie” for solo piano