Tomoko Kawamukai, a native of Takarazuka Japan, began studying the piano at the age of five. She received her Bachelor of Music in Piano from the Kobe College in Japan, where she studied piano with Satomi Okumura. Tomoko came to the United States in 1989 and enrolled at The Mannes College of Music, studying piano with Diane Walsh. She later transferred to The Juilliard School where studied collaborative piano with Jonathan Feldman and received her Master of Music. She also extended her study in the Professional Studies Program.

She joined soprano Kathleen Battle on her Far East Tour in Japan and Korea as accompanist for her recitals. Tomoko has actively performed as a collaborator and chamber musician in numerous concerts on the East Coast, including appearances at Weill Recital Hall (of Carnegie Hall), Merkin Concert Hall, Lincoln Center, Donnell Library, Riverside Church and Trinity Church in New York.

Tomoko has been working with children’s choirs, such as New Amsterdam Boys Choir, chorus groups in CPE 1 and Honor Choir of the School at the Columbia University in New York City. Tomoko’s recent arrangement of the composition “Mass” by Ms. Alexandra Ottaway, had its premier performance with New Amsterdam Boys Choir, Darryl Taylor and Ensemble TOKI in NABC’s spring concert 2005, and was a great success.

Currently, Tomoko is a staff accompanist of the Juilliard School, where she dedicates her time educating young musicians, and performing as a collaborative pianist. She is also the accompanist of The Pocono Choral Society in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania.