Instrument/Department: Violin and Chamber Music
Joined Hochstein faculty in: 2023
Determined to engage and inspire the audience, Dr. Koki Tanaka made his debut at age 18 at Benaroya Hall, performing the rarely heard Conus Violin Concerto in E minor with Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestra under conductor Stephen Rogers Radcliffe; also, with the Bellevue Philharmonic at Meydenbauer Center in Bellevue, Washington, under conductor Fusao Kajima.
Tanaka studied with Mikhail Kopelman, Renée Jolles, and Lynn Blakeslee at Eastman School of Music, where he served as a Teaching Assistant. At the University of Washington, he studied with Ronald Patterson.
Tanaka has given solo recitals at Eastman School of Music, SUNY Brockport, George Eastman House, Wilmot Recital Hall, and Beston Hall at Nazareth University, as well as performing at Esber Recital Hall at Penn State University. During the summer, Tanaka performs frequently at the Interlochen Center for the Arts as a part of faculty recitals.
Tanaka’s other passion has been teaching, and he has taught on many occasions, from local elementary school to middle school music classes, as well as privately. He teaches Aural Skills and Fundamental Theory courses at Nazareth University, Chamber Music at Roberts Wesleyan University, and violin at The Hochstein School, Eastman Community Music School, and Roberts Wesleyan Community Music School in Rochester, NY. Tanaka also teaches at Interlochen Center for the Arts| Summer Arts Camp as a Faculty Fellow.
Tanaka holds Doctor of Musical Arts and Master of Music degrees from Eastman School of Music and received his Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Washington.
More About Koki Tanaka
Hometown: Born in Japan, grew up in Seattle, WA.
Favorite things to do in Rochester area: Visiting State parks and walking on trails.
When I’m not at Hochstein, you can find me: Performing and teaching at different places in Rochester and surrounding areas!
What people would be surprised to know about me: I used to be a Ballet dancer until graduating from high school.