Music Conservatory of Westchester • Faculty

Hiroshi Yamazaki began playing piano at the age of seven in Osaka, Japan. He continued his study of classical piano at the Osaka College of Music. During his college years Hiroshi was exposed to a variety of jazz recordings, and his focus quickly shifted to jazz piano. At age 22, he gave his first professional jazz performance, leading a trio at S.A.B. Hall in Osaka.

Shortly after completing his studies, Hiroshi moved to New York City, a place where he could continue to grow as a musician and performer. There he began to forge his own voice, not only as an improviser, but also as a composer and arranger. His New York performance debut took place in 1988 at the Jazz Center of New York, which featured Paul West on bass and Leroy Williams on drums. Other performances followed, with Hiroshi leading groups at some of the most popular jazz venue in New York City, including the Village Gate, Birdland, and the Bluenote. He shared the stage with some of New York's finest players, including Eric Alexander, Kenny Washington, Lonnie Plaxico and Vernell Fornier. He made his first recording in 1996 with bassist Ron Carter and drummer Lewis Nash; a second recording followed in 2000.

Hiroshi joined the Conservatory faculty in 2001. “As a teacher, I try to hand down the knowledge I have gained from the experience of playing with great jazz musicians. In jazz, the method of study music involves not only learning the musical score, but feeling it with the body and soul.”

Hiroshi continues to perform in the New York area and in Japan , where he has made two recent tours. He is a sideman with the Carmen Leggio Quartet and Jan Leder Quartet, and continues to lead his own groups in New York City and the greater metropolitan area. His skills as an accompanist and arranger are much sought after as well.

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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

Hiroshi Yamazaki | Jazz Piano

Music Conservatory of Westchester • 216 Central Avenue, White Plains, NY 10606
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