Humming a few notes about Tomoko

I met Tomoko in the fall of 1984 at San Domenico School. We were both new faculty members; she taught piano, and I was the library director. Over lunch we began chatting about music, and she asked me to name my favorite composer. I said, “Bartok,” and that impressed her. 

A while later, she asked me if I would write program notes for her piano recital, which I happily did – it sharpened my music research and analysis skills. As a gift of thanks, she gave my husband and me two tickets for a concert of Yo-Yo Ma, just as he was starting to gain fame. I attended a few of her concerts, and appreciated her mastery of technique and interpretation. I also entered her daughter’s world: tutoring her a bit for SATs, and transcribing oral histories of her St. Moritz Ice Skating Club.

Even since I moved to Southern California, we have kept in contact. When Tomoko started creating CDs of her performances, I wrote short notes about each piece while enjoying listening to her nuanced recordings. She then approached me about writing a blog about her musical life, which led to several long interviews about her upbringing in Japan, her immigration to the States, and her professional and personal journey. What a rich and soulful life she has shared with me and the world – something I have tried to capture at least a little bit in this blog.  We are also in the process of writing a book about her life; incredible, no?

I feel so honored to be part of Tomoko’s life. I consider her a special friend; she continues to make a positive difference in my life.

Thankful for partner performers

Tomoko is very thankful for the wonderful musicians with whom she performed. They are each special and unique. Here are three of her outstanding ones.

George Duke was a famous jazz musician who passed away in 2013. Tomoko remembered him from 1967. "George lived in Marin City, and attended the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.  At the school's recital I performed Brahms and Prokofiev with him." Tomoko recalls his personality. "Some of the students didn't have cars, but he did -- and he gave rides. He was very humble and sweet."

One of Tomoko's favorite musical friends is violinist Ernestine Riedel Chihuaria, whom she met in 1968 through the Peninsula Symphony south of San Francisco. Tomoko was her last-minute accompanist at the De Young Museum, and continued to perform together for thirty years.

And then there is Tomoko's daughter Beata, who is a professional skater. Beata learned how to play the piano from an early age, but her passion was ice dancing. "It's good not to have two professional pianists in the family," remarks Tomoko. Nevertheless, at Tomoko's tribute concert in May 2013 she and Beata performed a piano duet, which was very touching.