Meg Okura

Meg Okura
Birth name 大倉恵 (Megumi Okura)
Also known as Meg Okura, 大倉めぐみ
Born (1973-08-09) August 9, 1973
Ome, Tokyo, Japan
Genres chamber jazz, Jazz, world, classical
Occupation(s) Musician, composer
Instruments Violin, erhu, electric violin
Years active 2001-present
Associated acts The Pan Asian Chamber Jazz Ensemble, Emilio Solla y La Inestable de Brooklyn, Pharaoh's Daughter,
Website Official website

Meg Okura (born August 9, 1973) is a Grammy nominated jazz violinist, composer, erhu player, and leader of the Pan Asian Chamber Jazz Ensemble, based in New York City. She is also a member of the band Pharaoh's Daughter, Emilio Solla y La Inestable de Brooklyn, which was nominated for the 57th Grammy Award for Best Latin Jazz Album, and New York Tango Quartet, among others. She has worked with jazz and pop legends such as Michael Brecker, Lee Konitz, Dianne Reeves, Steve Swallow, Tom Harrell, David Bowie and Mariko Takahashi as well as actor/musician Terrence Howard. Okura has also been the featured violinist in the Cirque du Soleil shows Varekai, Corteo and Wintuk.

Early life

Meg Okura (大倉恵, born in Tokyo, Japan), started studying music at Toho Gakuen School of Music at five. As a child, she served as a church pianist and organist at an Evangelical church in her home town of Ome. In the early 1990s, Meg Okura toured Asia as the concertmaster and soloist of the Asian Youth Orchestra. In 1992, she made her U.S. solo debut with the late Alexander Schneider and the New York String Orchestra at Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. She has earned bachelor's and master's degrees from The Juilliard School as a classical violinist. However Okura switched to jazz upon graduation.

Personal life

Meg Okura has been married to American jazz soprano saxophonist and composer Sam Newsome since 2004. Although Okura grew up in an Evangelical Christian household, she converted to Reform Judaism in 2013 after a decade of contemplation. Newsome and Okura live in New York City with their Afro-Asian Jewish daughter.

Honors & Awards

The Grammy Award, 2015 (Nominee)

Manhattan Community Arts Fund (Lower Manhattan Cultural Council)- 2013 & 2015

New Music USA Project Grant (New Music USA)- 2014

Brand Personality Award, The BrandLaureate Asia Pacific Brands Foundation)- 2012

Meet the Composer, Metlife Creative Connections Grant - 2008

Manhattan Community Art fund (LMCC)- 2008

American Composers Forum, Jerome Composers Commissioning Program- 2007-2008

Meet the Composer, Metlife Creative Connections Grant Urban Artist Initiative / NYC - 2006

2005 International Songwriting Competition (Honorable Mention)

2005 American University Saxophone Symposium Composition Contest (Honorable Mention)

The 2003 John Lennon Songwriting Contest (Honorable Mention)

The 2000 John Lennon Songwriting Contest (Honorable Mention)

Discography

As A Leader

With Other Artists (Partial List)

Filmography

References

  1. http://www.amazon.com/Tribute-Ryuichi-Sakamoto-Meg-Okura/dp/B00FRL7FAK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1423738680&sr=8-1&keywords=Meg+Okura. Missing or empty |title= (help); External link in |website= (help);

External links

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