Music Conservatory of Westchester • Faculty

Chikae was born in Tokyo, Japan and grew up listening to her father’s Jazz piano playing. Behind her house was a music school, and she started her piano and her singing lessons when she was 3 years old. She fell in love with American musicals when she was in 6th Grade, and started taking dance classes when she was 14. Her love for American musical theatre brought her to the U.S. in 1975.

Chikae majored in Theatre Arts at Santa Monica College in L.A. to follow her dream of doing musicals, and soon started performing in such shows as “A Chorus Line,” “Nine,” and “Stop The World- I Want To Get Off” under the directions of Michael Bennett, Tommy Tune and Anthony Newley. When the original production of “A Chorus Line” became the longest running show on Broadway in 1983, Chikae was chosen by the director, Michael Bennett, to play the part of Diana Morales and she sang “Nothing” in Japanese at the Gala Performance on Broadway. Her performance on that night was received with rave reviews by major NY theatre critics. Chikae has performed in major theatres and concert halls all over the U.S. such as the Shubert Theatre, the Metropolitan Opera House, Madison Square Garden, the Dorothy Chandler Pavillion in L.A., and the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C.

Chikae also performed with Meredith Monk and her vocal ensemble, toured Italy with Harlem Gossi Gospel Choir (solo singer), and sang in major jazz clubs in Japan and in NY.

Throughout her career, she continued her music studies at many institutions and with prominent teachers. The list includes the Mannes School of Music, NY Dalcroze School with Anne Farber, Hoff-Barthelson Music School with Dr. Ruth Alperson, the Longy School of Music with Lisa Parker, private studies with W. A. Mathieu (the author of “The Listening Book,” “The Musical Life,” and “Harmonic Experience), and Dr. Barry Harris (legendary Jazz pianist and educator). Chikae holds an Arts in Education Certification from the Marymount Manhattan College, and is expected to receive her Dalcroze Certification within a year.

Chikae is also a faculty member of Montclair State University Preparatory Center for the Arts and the Turnauer School of Music, and teaches Dalcroze eurhythmics as well as voice/choir.

Photo/Pinsky Studios

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Conservatory faculty are all highly skilled and experienced teachers. Teachers are assigned to maximize the learning experience of each student taking into account the students musical interests and goals, age and scheduling needs.

"I am very happy and proud of Jun Luke Foster’s and Benjamin Boventer’s achievements. I taught Jun Luke for 12 years and his acceptance to Juilliard School of Music is a great sign of his musical maturity and accomplishment. He was also accepted to Harvard and Yale. Benjamin was with me for five years. He won a prestigious $40,000 scholarship from Skidmore College for music studies. He was the only pianist in that competition who received this award. He was also accepted at Tufts University. It is very satisfying to know that our students continue to achieve such success." —Svetlana Gorokovich, MCW Faculty

Conservatory faculty are all highly skilled and experienced teachers. Teachers are assigned to maximize the learning experience of each student taking into account the students musical interests and goals, age and scheduling needs.

"I am very happy and proud of Jun Luke Foster’s and Benjamin Boventer’s achievements. I taught
Jun Luke for 12 years and his acceptance to Juilliard School of Music is a great sign of his musical maturity and accomplishment. He was also accepted to Harvard and Yale. Benjamin was with me for five years. He won a prestigious $40,000 scholarship from Skidmore College for music studies. He was the only pianist in that competition who received this award. He was also accepted at Tufts University. It is very satisfying to know that our students continue to achieve such success."
—Svetlana Gorokovich, MCW Faculty

Chikae Iskawa | Music Skills

Music Conservatory of Westchester • 216 Central Avenue, White Plains, NY 10606
914.761.3900 • info@musiced.org

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