PianoCademy

A native of Los Angeles, California, Japanese-Chinese pianist Asuka Restauri is a dedicated educator in the South Bay and Burbank area. She has over 25 years of extensive classical training studying under renowned pedagogues such as Akiko Hasunuma (MTAC Pasadena) and Miyoko Lotto (NYU, Manhattan School of Music, Juilliard). Asuka holds a B.M. and M.A. from New York University and has been an active performer in New York City. She has also made international appearances on stages in countries such as Japan, Russia, Austria and Bolivia. She is currently the owner and instructor of Pianocademy, a piano studio dedicated to offering students high quality training in a fun and supportive environment.

 

Some of the awards she took as a young piano student include numerous first prize awards for the Southern Youth Music Festival, 1st Prize for the MTAC Chopin Competition and Duo Competition and 2nd prize for the Southern California Junior Bach Festival Complete Works.  At the age of 13, she was invited by the Piano Teachers Music Guild of Japan to perform at Tokyo's Nakano Zero Hall and Koche Hall in a collaborative concert with pianist Susan Svrcek. 

 

In 2001 Asuka continued her studies with Miyoko Lotto in New York City where she attended New York University under the School of Education Scholarship. During this time she performed actively both as a soloist and chamber musician throughout the city in venues such as National Arts Club, Nabi Gallery, Tenri Cultural Institute, Frederick Loewe Theatre, and Weill hall. She also had the honor to perform in masterclasses with legendary musicians such as Claude Frank, Pamela Frank, Joel Krosnick and Gilbert Kalish.

 

In 2007 Asuka and her duo partner, Walter Aparicio were invited to perform at the Teatro Municipal in La Paz, Bolivia under the sponsorship of the Bolivian government and the Vice Ministry of Culture. The performance received special recognition from the International Young Men's Club Association and was aired on Channel 21-Gigavision. In 2007 the duo captured first prize at the Bradshaw and Buono International Competition for their performance of Barber's "Souvenirs Ballet Suite, Op. 28".

 

In 2009, Asuka became the recipient of Artists International Special Presentation Award which hosted her New York solo recital debut at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall. Her recital featured works of Mendelssohn, Haydn, Liszt and Ginastera.

 

From 2007 to 2009, Asuka was a performing artist and the production manager for the Nouveau Classical Project, a concert series focused on combining fashion and classical music. Some of her productions include "Departures" featuring the fashion of Rachel Cohen and artwork of Elsie Hill, and "Reconstruction" a collaboration with Parsons students to reconceptualize historical silhouettes using Louis Vuitton samples and classical music for inspiration. 

 

As an educator, Asuka has over 15 years of experience training young musicians. In addition to her private studio, she is also a faculty member of the Pasadena Conservatory of Music and serves on the Board of Directors at the MTAC South Bay Branch. Previously, she was an adjunct faculty member of New York University and the Assistant Director for the Chamber Music Program at the award-winning New York Youth Symphony where she worked with young gifted artists. Throughout her time in New York she has taught over 100 students at her private studio "Studio 545". The studio will be featured in David Cutler's upcoming book, "The Savvy Music Teacher".  She currently resides in the South Bay area where she hopes to continue to teach and inspire the next generation of young musicians.