Marina Iwao pianist
Japanese-born pianist Marina Iwao is a dedicated chamber musician actively performing on the East Coast. Her diverse repertoire, ranging from classical to contemporary music, has been showcased in prestigious venues, including Carnegie Hall, Merkin Concert Hall, and the Across Fukuoka Symphony Hall.
.
Marina's love for chamber music began in her high school days when she found joy in accompanying her friends during their juries, not yet aware of the term "collaborative piano." After earning her solo piano degrees at Longy School of Music and Mannes School of Music, she participated as a collaborative piano fellow at the Bowdoin International Festival which solidified her decision to pursue a career as a collaborative pianist. She was then named a collaborative piano fellow at the Music Academy of the West in 2018 and 2019. Marina completed her Master of Music in Collaborative Piano at The Juilliard School, under the mentorship of Jonathan Feldman and Dr. Lydia Brown. From 2022 to 2024, she served as Collaborative Piano Fellow and Collaborative Piano Coordinator at the Yale School of Music.
Marina has had the privilege of collaborating with renowned musicians such as Frank Morelli, David Shifrin, Koichiro Yamamoto, and Quatuor Debussy. As a member of Random Access Music, a New York City-based composer and performer collective, she frequently appears in contemporary music recitals and enjoys premiering works by living composers. Notably, in 2023, she premiered Margaret Brouwer's Sonata for Clarinet and Piano with Thomas Piercy at ClarinetFest in Denver, CO, celebrating the International Clarinet Association's 50th Anniversary. In 2025, Marina will join the artist roster for the Music from Angel Fire in New Mexico.
In addition to her performance career, Marina has taught as a chamber music coach and collaborative pianist at summer festivals, including the New England Music Camp Chamber Music Intensive and the Philadelphia International Music Festival. Currently, she is a staff pianist at The Juilliard School and Kaufman Music School. She is also a chamber music faculty member at the School for Strings, where she inspires young musicians with her passion for ensemble playing.