Sayaka Seki

Born in Japan, Ms. Sayaka Seki began piano lessons at age 5, studying with Ms. Hisae Kitaguchi until age 18. She participated in Joyful Sounds Piano Contest throughout her middle and high school years and won several awards. Accepted by Moores School of Music in University of Houston (UH) with scholarship, she started studying with Mr. Timothy Hester in 2002. She participated in Schlern Music Festival, Italy in 2003 and 2005, as well as studying abroad in Siena, Italy in 2003 with a scholarship by UH’s Italian department, where she pursued Italian language as minor. After finishing her undergraduate degree in Piano Performance, she continued her studies with Mr. Hester, for her Masters in Accompanying and Chamber Music, which was successfully completed in 2009.

As a staff accompanist in UH, Ms. Sayaka has worked with students and professors for many years. She has collaborated with internationally recognized musicians such as Master Sergeant Matthew Erickson, former Bass Trombonist of U.S. Air Force Band, Thomas Hultén, Principle Trombonist of Houston Grand Opera/Ballet, Patrick Sheridan, world-class tuba soloist, and Mihoko Kinoshita, award-winning soprano.  

 

Ms. Sayaka has been enthusiastically teaching piano since 2006, inspired by pedagogy classes with Ms. Alicia Shirley.  She has sent a number of students to the Associate Board of Royal School of Music Exam, and many of them passed with Merit or Distinction. She also enjoys coaching and working with middle and high school instrumentalists during solo & ensemble contest and competitions.