EDUCATION

The Juilliard School, Master of Music in Violin Performance
The Juilliard School, Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance

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HONORS AND AWARDS (SELECTED)

Winner, 9th Annual Symphonic Jazz Orchestra George Duke Commissioning Prize, 2024
Winner, International Society of Jazz Arrangers and Composers (ISJAC)
Fundamental Freedoms Commission Prize, 2023
Recipient, Asian Cultural Council Fellowship, 2024
Recipient, Copland House Residency Awards, 2020
Recipient, Chamber Music America New Jazz Works Commissioning Grant, 2018
Recipient, Jerome Fund for New Music, 2007

Additional awards include:
NYFA Women’s Fund, Jazz Road Tours, Jazz Road Creative Residency, BRIO Awards, IAWIM
Competition- Portland Jazz Composers Prize, VCCA Artists of Color, Jazz Road Creative
Residency Award, New Music USA, Meet the Composer, etc.

 

COMMISSIONS AND PREMIERES (SELECTED)

Shaon Overture (2025)

• Commissioned by Symphonic Jazz Orchestra George Duke Commissioning Prize

• Premiered by Symphonic Jazz Orchestra on November 16, 2025 at Carpenter Center, Long Beach, CA

 

Silent Screams (2024)

• Commissioned by ISJAC; Premiere: Vanderbilt Univ.

• Additional: BMI NY Jazz Orchestra, Meetinghouse Jazz Orchestra

 

Phantasmagoria (2020)

• Commissioned by Tasha Warren & Dave Eggar; Premiere: Michigan State Univ.

• Also performed by Soli Ensemble, Unheard-of Ensemble, Lansing Symphony Orchestra

• Selected by Soli Ensemble 30x30x30, LunART, TUTTI, FSU, CSUN, 2024

 

Jubberish Folk Tunes (2019)

• Commissioned by CMA NJW; Premiere: Kennedy Center, 2019

• Additional: Mount Trashmore (VA), Winter Jazz Fest (NYC)

 

Crane Wife (2008)

• Commissioned by C.Eule Dance; Premiere: Kumble Theatre (Brooklyn), 2008

• Additional: Frying Pan NYC, University Settlement (NYC)

 

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PERFORMANCE HIGHLIGHTS (SELECTED)

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AdaMa Quartet - performed in Michigan, South Korea, and New York City

Symphonic Jazz Orchestra - the world premiere of “Shaon Overture” by Meg Okura in Long
Beach, California. Mitch Glickman (conductor), feat. Meg Okura (violin) in 2025
MEG OKURA & KEVIN HAYS DUO toured sponsored by Jazz Road Tours in 2024
Bandleader, Meg Okura Quartet and Pan Asian Chamber Jazz Ensemble (PACJE); performances at
Birdland Jazz Club, Jazz At Lincoln Center, Winter JazzFest, Blue Note NYC, Kennedy Center
Millennium Stage, and international jazz festivals in Asia and Europe
The Stone Residency – John Zorn’s The Stone (2018)
Curated and performed 10 original concert programs over one week as composer and bandleader
Featured projects included J-Orchestra (Jewish/Japanese/Big Band Jazz) with guest
conductor Miho Hazama, Meg Okura | Kevin Hays Duo, and NPO Trio with Sam Newsome and Jean-Michel Pilc
Violinist & Featured Soloist with the Michael Brecker Quindectet; international tour under Gil Goldstein
Violinist with the Tom Harrell Chamber Ensemble; impressionist-inspired jazz, performed internationally
Violinist & Soloist with Emilio Solla y La Inestable de Brooklyn; tango-jazz ensemble, earned Grammy-nomination as a band member
Violinist with the Helen Sung Quartet; jazz festivals and concerts across the U.S.
Violinist & Soloist with Brian Marsella iMAGiNARiUM; experimental jazz at The Stone, Roulette, and
BIG EARS Festival.
Violinist with Vince Giordano & the Nighthawks; 1920s–40s jazz, NYC venues and festivals
Violinist with Pharaoh’s Daughter; toured internationally with this Jewish/Middle Eastern ensemble
Violinist & Soloist with Roberto Rodriguez’s Cuban Jewish All-Stars and Septeto Rodriguez; performed at cultural festivals across the U.S. and Europe
Violinist & Soloist with Cirque du Soleil (Varekai, Wintuk, Corteo); staged productions in the U.S. and Japan
Concertmaster & Soloist with the Henry Mancini Institute Orchestra; performances under Quincy Jones, Herbie Hancock, and others
Concertmaster with the Juilliard Opera Orchestra; performed at Lincoln Center
Soloist with the New York String Orchestra under Alexander Schneider; Kennedy Center
Soloist & Concertmaster with the Asian Youth Orchestra; Asia tour with Lukas Foss and Alexander Schneider
Violinist and featured performer with projects led by Erica Seguine/Shan Baker Jazz Orchestra, JC Sanford Orchestra, Darcy James Argue, Alan Ferber, and Miho Hazama   
Performed at venues including Birdland, The Jazz Gallery, Shapeshifter Lab, and The Stone

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RECENT REVIEWS & FEATURES (SELECTED)

DownBeat Magazine (March 2025): review of ISAIAH

STRINGS Magazine (December 2024) - read it here: Violin Repertoire—“Again and Again”
DownBeat Magazine (September 2024) - read it here: Meg Okura’s Multicultural Identity
New York City Record (May 2024): album review
The Walkers (June 2024): album review of “Lingering”
Front Row Center (May 2024): a 5-star review on live show at the MET
Musical America (May 2024): news coverage
The EAR (April 2024): Review of “Lingering”
London Jazz News (May 2024): “Mothers In Jazz” feature
JAZZIZ (May, 2024)
OUR TOWN (May 2024): a full-page feature
Maui News (February 2024): a concert preview interview

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AS A LEADER

"Uncommon Tone: Live at the Stone” by Meg Okura, Angelica Sanchez, and Sam Newsome– Adhyâropa Records (August, 2026)

"ISAIAH” Meg Okura & The Pan Asian Chamber Jazz Ensemble– Adhyâropa Records (February, 2026)

"Lingering" – Adhyâropa Records (2024): A duo collaboration album with pianist Kevin Hays.

"IMA IMA" (2018): original compositions featuring the Pan Asian Chamber Jazz Ensemble with special guest Tom Harrell.

"NPO Trio Live at The Stone" (2018): A live recording with Sam Newsome and Jean-Michel Pilc, emphasizing improvisational chamber jazz.
"Music of Ryuichi Sakamoto" (2013): Interpretations of Sakamoto's compositions, arranged by Meg Okura, performed by the Pan Asian Chamber Jazz Ensemble.
"Naima" (2010): Pan Asian Chamber Jazz Ensemble’s second album, featuring original
compositions and an arrangement of Coltrane’s classic, Naima.
Meg Okura’s Pan Asian Chamber Jazz Ensemble (2006) self-titled debut album.

 

ENSEMBLES
"Ourself Behind Ourself, Concealed" (2022): with Tasha Warren & Dave Eggar, featuring Meg Okura’s composition Phantasmagoria and violin performance.
"Music of Eric Whitacre" with Eric Whitacre: a violinist in a trio with Eric Whitacre and Hila Plitman
“Medietas” (2024) and "iMAGiNARiUM": with Brian Marsella, a violinist, featured soloist.
"First Impressions" (2015) with Tom Harrell Chamber Ensemble: featured violin soloist.
"Angle of Repose Live in Japan" (2011) (DVD) with Michael Brecker Quindectet, featured soloist
"Views From The Inside" with JC Sanford Orchestra: a violinist, featured soloist.
"Don't Take Your Time" with Erin Bode: a violinist, featured soloist.
"L' Histoire Du Clochard: The Bum's Tale" with Lee Konitz & The Axis String Quartet
"Global Unity" with Sam Newsome: a violinist
"Oy Vey! Ole!" and "Baila! Gitano Baila!" with Roberto Juan Rodriguez: a violinist, featured soloist, blending Jewish and Latin musical traditions.
"The Wildest Dream" Soundtrack: solo violin feature
"Dumiyah" and “Haran” with Pharaoh's Daughter: a violinist, featured soloist
"Nondual" with Kirtan Rabbi: featured soloist, blending Jewish liturgical music with Indian traditions.

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​ADDITIONAL CONTRIBUTIONS AS A VIOLINIST:
Heathen and Slow Burn – David Bowie
Dragonfly – Ziggy Marley
Christmas Time Is Here – Dianne Reeves
While the Music Lasts – Jesse Harris
State of Art – Ben Williams
Boardwalk Empire Soundtrack – Vince Giordano & the Nighthawks (HBO)
Re:Generations – Nat King Cole (Remix Project)
Voices in the Wilderness – John Zorn
Good Apollo I’m Burning Star IV – Coheed and Cambria
Generations – Brian Landrus

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LECTURES & MASTERCLASSES

The MET Museum – Guest Lecture
UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music – Masterclass/Guest Lecture
ISJAC Symposium – Lecture
Jazz Composers Present – Online Series
Composers Now – Online Series
King Kekaulike High School (Maui) – Public School Engagement
Michigan State University – Masterclass
Brigham Young University–Hawaii – Masterclass, coaching
UCSI University (Malaysia) – Masterclass
Flint Institute of Music - Masterclass
Women In Jazz Organization – Online Series

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ADJUDICATION, MENTORSHIP & ADVISORY ROLES

Adjudicator: ISJAC, New Music USA, American Composers Forum, Jerome Foundation,
Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, BRIO Awards, Wa-hi Jazz
Advisory Board Member: New Music USA, Jewish Community Center Harlem
Mentor: The Juilliard School Mentoring Program

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PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
International Society of Jazz Arrangers and Composers (ISJAC)
The Recording Academy (The GRAMMYs)
ASCAP
American Composers Forum
Chamber Music America
American Society of Music Arrangers and Composers (ASMAC)

 

SELECTED EXPERTISE

• Jewish Sacred Music Expert: Violinist and improviser specializing in Jewish liturgical music, fluent in Hebrew prayer traditions. Regular performer at Congregation Emanu-El of the City of New York and other major synagogues, acclaimed for transformative live composition.

• Studio Improvisation and Composition for Film and Theater: Composer and featured soloist

for critically recognized works, including The Wildest Dream: Conquest of Everest (soundtrack soloist), The Crane Wife, and Becoming Eve 

• Multicultural Fluency and Tradition: Fluent in Japanese and English, with working

knowledge of German and Biblical Hebrew; deeply rooted in Jewish, Japanese, and African
American musical and cultural traditions.

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