Assistant Professor, Jazz Piano
Originally from Fukushima, Japan, Masa Ishikawa grew up in a city called Aizu Wakamatsu. He came to the United States in 2003 to begin his formal musical training in Seattle, Washington. As a pianist, Masa has performed at various jazz festivals and concerts in Italy, China, Japan, and the United States. Masa enjoys interacting and cultivating meaningful relationships with listeners and other musicians through performing music.
Masa is also passionate about crafting music with various instrumentations. In 2019, Masa released his first studio album titled Dialogue, which consists of ten original compositions written for vibraphone, piano/keyboards, acoustic bass/electric bass, and drums. In summer 2023, Masa released his 2nd original trio album title Montage as well as the 3rd original sextet album titled First Note. Several of his compositions have been published from UNC Jazz Press.
In March 2021, Masa collaborated with Eien Hunter (taiko drums/shinobue) on his composition Haseru to commemorate Japan's 2011 tsunami and earthquake tragedy. He also premiered Suite for the Forgotten (jazz orchestra with strings) in 2015. The music is dedicated to people who are currently living in Fukushima under the uncertain health impact of the radiation exposure from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plants meltdown in 2011.
In his free time, Masa enjoys learning languages, cooking, playing Shogi (Japanese chess), as well as taking pictures of various nature.
Chuck Dotas
Professor
Director of Jazz Studies
dotascj@jmu.edu
Andrew Connell
Professor
connelam@jmu.edu
Masa Ishikawa
Assistant Professor
Jazz Piano
ishikamx@jmu.edu
David Pope
Professor
popedj@jmu.edu
Sam Suggs, Bass
Associate Professor
suggsss@jmu.edu
Emre Kartari
Instructor
kartarle@jmu.edu
Adam Larrabee
Instructor
larrabaj@jmu.edu
Greg Thomas
Instructor
thoma3gp@jmu.edu
Lori Piitz
Professor
Piano Area Coordinator
piitzle@jmu.edu
Gabriel Dobner
Professor
dobnergt@jmu.edu
Masa Ishikawa
Assistant Professor
Jazz Piano
ishikamx@jmu.edu
Eric Ruple
Professor
Steinway Artist
rupleek@jmu.edu
Paulo Steinberg
Professor
steinbpr@jmu.edu
Jocelyn Chan
Lead Piano Technician
chan2sm@jmu.edu
Heather J. Coltman
Provost & Senior Vice President
Scott Zane Smith
Class Piano Coordinator, Supervisor, Instructor
smithsz@jmu.edu
John Veitch
Piano Technician
veitchjs@jmu.edu