I am you. You are we. We are all. All is Love.
Roy Okutani was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii but currently, he finds himself in Ostersund, Sweden teaching at Birka Folkhogskola. At Birka, Roy teaches Creative Musicianship, Ensembles, Improvisation, Reflections and is the leader of the jazz department.
Roy has been very active as a teacher and musician since arriving to Sweden in 1994. He has taught at the music university in Trondheim, Norway, Skurups Folkhogskola, Fridhems Folkhhogskola and at the music university in Malmo, Sweden. Before coming to Sweden, Roy was a professor at Berklee College of Music from 1983-1994. Roy’s performing experience includes playing and recording with Orange Then Blue, Gunther Schuller, George Russell, George Garzone, Tim Hagans and many others.
Roy’s teaching focuses on developing and encouraging the artist’s relationship with music and their true selves. He encourages students to experience the music, instead of a mental identification of the music. By encouraging students to experience their true selves, Roy hopes that musicians can inspire listeners and other musicians to realize their true selves.
