Mayuko Katakura

Mayuko Katakura

At the same time as entering Senzoku Gakuen College of Music, she turned jazz to a classical piano that began in her childhood, and graduated from the university at the top. In 2002, she received a scholarship and entered Berklee College of Music. Graduated from the University with "piano achievement award" in 2004. She entered the Juilliard School in 2005 and studied piano with Kenny Barron and ensemble with Carl Allen and Ben Wolf. She has performed with many jazz icons such as Hank Jones, Donald Harrison and Eddie Henderson. In 2006, she won "Mary Lou Williams Women In Jazz Piano Competition" and was selected as a semi-finalist for "Thelonious Monk International Jazz Piano Competition". Currently, in addition to her own trio activities, she is leading the jazz scene in Japan as "a first call player" who is constantly attracted by many top players including Hidefumi Toki.