Instrument/Department: Piano
Joined Hochstein Faculty: 2019
Yoshiko Arahata enjoys a multifaceted career as an internationally active pianist, educator, improvisor, and composer. Her solo engagements have taken her to stages throughout the US, Asia, and Europe and she has made concerto appearances with both traditional orchestras and contemporary ensembles. A sought-after collaborator and chamber musician, she has performed with the renowned violinist Charles Castleman, musicians from Toronto Symphony Orchestra and Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, percussionist Joshua Graham on “Music after 2000” Midwest tour, Ensemble-in-Residence in Texas as the founding member of Elgin Trio, and at the Garth Newel Chamber Music Festival.
Rochester’s City Newspaper praised Arahata for “playing with a vibrancy not often heard” and staging that “isn’t just a standard recital presentation” for her 2020 Rochester Fringe Festival production of a contemporary opera and art songs with the acclaimed mezzo-soprano Jessica Ann Best. Additionally, she frequently collaborates with Mariah Steele of Quicksilver Dance.
A committed educator, Arahata has held diverse teaching, coaching, and collaborative piano positions and enjoys working with students from a wide range of ages and levels. Prior to teaching at Hochstein, she has taught at SUNY Geneseo, Nazareth College, Eastman School of Music (collegiate and community divisions), Northwestern University, and Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp. Currently, she also teaches piano, theory, and jazz ensemble as a Visiting Assistant Professor of Music at Alfred University and serves on the improvisation committee of the National Conference of Keyboard Pedagogy.
Arahata holds piano performance degrees from the Eastman School of Music (BM, DMA) and Northwestern University (MM).