She began her musical studies in classical piano and organ at age 3.
She worked with Yamaha Corporation in Japan, while still attending The University of Arts where she obtained a MA in Musical Composition. She has arranged, composed and performed for various concerts and competitions in Japan, such as Big Band Concert for Japanese Ambassadors, Osaka Philharmonic Orchestra and Kyoto Symphony Orchestra. Between 1996 and 2001, She produced and created new instructional materials and her own methods for composition and arrangement for the Big Band Orchestra for which she lectured a total of 400 instructors on this style at 12 locations.
In addition she also worked with the Yamaha Asia division in Indonesia for instructors and musicians. In 1996 she taught and performed at 14 locations in Taiwan. Her skills were so outstanding that the Asahi Television Broadcasting Station hired her to perform Jazz ..board and sing for their public program in Japan.
Furthermore, she worked as an organ player for the Righa Royal in Osaka Japan, and performed at more than 500 ceremonies at the Hotel.
Seiko came to N.Y.C. in 2001 to expand her musical career. Since arriving she has composed and arranged for musicians and one of her recent works is a recording for the movie "Climbing Miss Sophia" with Percussionist Cafe which is set to open at the Cinema Festival in NYC. She initiated a music collaboration called The Brazilian Project which performed a fund raiser for AFRICA on Dec.2002 -2004 at The National Black Theater. Also she have been playing with her band @ Society of Illustrators since fall 2003.Seiko is also an accompanist for the National Dance Institute (NDI). For 30 years, National Dance Institute, founded by New York City Ballet dancer Jacques d’Amboise, has been teaching dance to 4th, 5th and 6th graders in New York and New Jersey schools. NDI’s classes are co-taught by a professional teacher / choreographer, an assistant teacher, and a musician for the duration of the school year, with the underlying belief that the arts are as essential to education as reading math.
“Temptation" is Seiko’s debut album in USA and former CD “Marcha†compositions performed by big-band orchestra featuring Japanese most versatile and in demand players.
..All photography by Tokio Kuniyoshi
