Cello Lessons, Newton and Metropolitan Area

Bio/Resume/Media

Cello Boston | Joshua Akira Nakazawa
teaching + performing

Biography

Joshua Nakazawa was raised in Newton, MA and began playing cello at the age of three. Surrounded by Boston’s musical environment, Josh had the opportunity to attend many of the youth music programs provided by colleges and conservatories such as Longy School of Music, New England Conservatory’s preparatory division, and Boston University’s Greater Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra. As a child and young adult he occupied his summers playing and performing in music festivals geared toward orchestra, chamber ensemble, and solo performing such as Greenwood, Manchester Music Festival, Tanglewood Institute, and Encore school for strings. Some of his early achievements included playing on the radio show for young talented musicians, “From The Top,” winning first place in Marlboro MA young artist competition, and receiving honorable mention for the Boston Symphony Orchestra’s young artist concerto competition. His mentors include teachers Andy Mark, Ron Lowry, Stephen Geber, and Sato Knudson.

Josh earned his B.M. at the Manhattan School of Music where he studied with David Geber and Margo Tatgenhorst Drakos. There he took part in Manhattan School of Music’s many ensemble performances and productions such as opera, jazz, contemporary orchestra, symphonic orchestra and chamber ensembles. He played under the direction of many great composers including George Crumb, Richard Danielpour, and Lukas Foss. Josh taught various levels and age groups starting from Angier elementary school in Newton, MA to students at Columbia University in Manhattan, NY. Josh also participated in projects such as movie scores including the Bond Legacy with compositions by John Califra, and played on tour with the Manchester Music Festival Chamber Orchestra.

Josh graduated with an Artist Certificate degree in Dallas, Texas from Southern Methodist University where the Synchronous Trio was founded. As a cello teacher in Dallas, Josh had students from the Dallas elementary and high schools who participate in the Dallas Uptown Youth Orchestra, as well as students from Staley Middle School, and Frisco High School. He has performed in popular venues including Symphony Hall, Jordan Hall, Carnegie Hall, The Myerson, The Dallas Arboretum, and Koerner Hall. Josh continues to perform as a soloist and chamber musician throughout the northeast.

Resume

Education

Southern Methodist University, Artist Certificate 2010

Manhattan School of Music, Bachelor of Music, 2008

Violoncello Study

2008-2010 Andres Diaz

2008-2010 Christopher Adkins-Orchestral Repertoire

2006-2008 Margo Tatgenhorst-Drakos

2004-2006 David Geber

2003 (Summer) Stephen Geber

2001-2004 Sato Knudsen

2001 (Summer) Matt Haimovitz

Orchestra experience

2012-2013 New World Symphony Orchestra Sub; Michael Tilson Thomas

2011-2012 Waterloo Chamber Orchestra *assistant principle

2009-2010 Stonebriar Orchestra, Frisco,Tx

2008-2010 Meadows School of Music, Southern Methodist University, Orchestra

2004-2008 Manhattan School of Music Opera Orchestra and Philharmonia

1996-2004 Boston Youth Symphony Orchestras

1995-2003 New England Conservatory Youth Orchestras

1998-2001 Longy School of Music Young Performers Chamber Orchestra

Summer Festivals

Banff Music Festival;Master Classes with R.Wallfisch; Colin Carr;

Desmond Hoebig; Andres Diaz

Manchester Music Festival

Encore School for Strings (CIM)

Boston University Tanglewood Institute Orchestra

Greenwood Chamber Music Camp

Chamber Music Experience

2011 Leon Fleisher Master Class

2010 Live Wire Contemporary Music Festival

2009 Mannheim Pressler Master Class

2009 Cello Fest at Texas Christian University;J.Tavener,”Wake up….And Die performed with Andres Diaz

Teaching Experience

2012-2013 Newton schools including Countryside, Angier, Mason Rice, Memorial Spaulding, Oak Hill/ Brown

2009-2010 Adjudicator for Frisco UIL

2009 Cello teacher at Frisco High School; Staley Middle School and Dallas Uptown Youth Orch.

2006-2013 Private cello teacher

Competitions

2011 Royal Conservatory chamber competition winner, first place

2004 Boston Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition for HS Students, Honorable Mention

2003 Greater Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition, Second Place

2003 Competition Winner, Marlborough’s Sixth Annual Young People’s Performing Arts Festival

Scholarships

2010 Scholarship Award, Artist Diploma, Glenn Gould School

2008-2010 Scholarship Award, Artist Certificate, Southern Methodist University.

2004-2005 Scholarship Award, BM in Cello Performance, Manhattan School Music.

2003 From The Top, Scholarship Award in association with WGBH Radio Boston, and New England

Conservatory of Music.

Professional Recordings
2011 Various independent films at CBC recording studio.

2009 John Tavener with Andres Diaz

2007 “Voices in Union” Rose Bapier production Inc. benefit for East Timor concert

2006 Manchester Music Festival Chamber Orchestra Trinity Hall recording

2005 The Bond Force Legacy, Original Musical Score by John Califra, Solo Cello.

Media

-Ned Rorem, "The Last Songs of Wallace Stevens"

-Ligeti, Gyorgi- Cello Sonata

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