Futaba Niekawa Joins UMD as Assistant Professor of Collaborative Piano

The internationally renowned pianist will lead SOM’s highly regarded graduate collaborative piano program.

By SOM Staff

Internationally renowned solo and collaborative pianist Futaba Niekawa has joined the University of Maryland School of Music (SOM) as assistant professor of collaborative piano.

Niekawa will lead SOM’s highly-regarded graduate collaborative piano program, which trains masters and doctoral students to provide vital accompaniment and collaboration for student and faculty recitals and performances. As the primary mentor for these students, Niekawa will help shape how the program works with other divisions within SOM.

“It is an honor to be joining the great tradition of pedagogues from the piano division and other disciplines at the University of Maryland,” said Niekawa. “I am excited to spread the love of collaboration, and to help students grow in an artistic, nurturing and creative community.”

Niekawa has performed—solo and in collaboration—throughout North America, Europe and Asia. She has worked with some of the world's top ensembles and solo artists, including members of the Metropolitan Opera and Chicago Symphony. To date, Niekawa has released five recordings encompassing solo, four-hands, duo and chamber music from classical to newly composed works.

“Futaba is an extraordinary pianist and teacher, and a joy to work with,” said Professor of Violin James Stern, who served on the committee that selected Niekawa. “She is able to convey a wealth of detailed information in her teaching, while also encouraging students to dig deeper and discover the meaning of the music for themselves.”

A dedicated educator and mentor, Niekawa has been a featured guest teacher and performer at universities across North America. Previously, she taught and served as a lecturer in chamber and collaborative music at Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music, where she provided vital coaching for student ensembles and collaborative pianists. Her students have pursued further studies at the Juilliard School, New England Conservatory, the University of South California, the University of Colorado-Boulder and more.

Niekawa is also an advocate of sharing live classical music beyond concert halls. She is a founding member of Chamberfest Brown County in Nashville, Indiana, a community music outreach initiative that provides opportunities for locals and visitors to attend world-class concerts and lectures. Niekawa’s commitment to accessibility has also inspired her to play in a series of house performances across North America, providing audience members with a more intimate and approachable concert experience.

Niekawa attended the Toho Gakuen School of Music, where she studied with Sumiko Mikimoto and Keiko Takeuchi. She holds a Bachelor of Music and a Doctoral of Music Arts from the Eastman School of Music and a Masters of Music from New England Conservatory. Her mentors have included Natalya Antonova, Jean Barr, William Porter, Patricia Zander and the late Thomas Schumacher, who was a member of the UMD piano division for 26 years.