Ayako Shirasaki -in Memorial- at Blue Gallery

Tokyo University of the Arts (Tokyo Geidai) New York Alumni Association is hosting the “Ayako Shirasaki in Memoriam” Exhibition & Concert at the Blue Gallery in Midtown NYC.

Ayako Shirasaki was a jazz pianist, who graduated from the Tokyo University of the Arts in 1992 and the Manhattan School of Music in 1999, where she studied piano with Mr. Kenny Barron. Ayako was a regular performer at many of NYC’s jazz clubs as well as concerts in Japan & Europe. Ayako was also the founder and director of Sakura Music School in NYC where she enjoyed teaching music to students of all ages. ...

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Tokyo University of the Arts (Tokyo Geidai) New York Alumni Association is hosting the “Ayako Shirasaki in Memoriam” Exhibition & Concert at the Blue Gallery in Midtown NYC.

Ayako Shirasaki was a jazz pianist, who graduated from the Tokyo University of the Arts in 1992 and the Manhattan School of Music in 1999, where she studied piano with Mr. Kenny Barron. Ayako was a regular performer at many of NYC’s jazz clubs as well as concerts in Japan & Europe. Ayako was also the founder and director of Sakura Music School in NYC where she enjoyed teaching music to students of all ages.

However, Ayako sadly passed away at the age of 52 in November 2021. In honor of her accomplishments and efforts for the alumni association, we are presenting an exhibition and concert to show our respect and gratitude for her. The gallery will be an irreplaceable place where musicians and fans of Ayako can share memories of her.

The exhibition and tribute concert will be taken place at The Blue Gallery in New York City from Monday, November 14 through Wednesday, November 16 (gallery hour: 1 PM - 7:30 PM). In the exhibition, Ayako’s photos, live footage, and recordings as well as music and small instruments and percussions that she loved to play will be displayed. Besides the exhibition, a tribute concert will be held on Wednesday, November 16 at 7:30 PM. Musicians from the alumni association as well as Ayako’s lifelong partners and friends will be performing in the concert.

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