Meg Okura

Early life Meg Okura (大倉恵, born in Tokyo, Japan), started studying music at Toho Gakuen School of Music at five years of age. As a child, she served as a church pianist and organist at an Evangelical church in her home town of Ome. In the early 1990s, she toured Asia as the concertmaster and soloist of the Asian Youth Orchestra. In 1992, she made her U.S. solo debut with the late Alexander Schneider and the New York String Orchestra at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. Okura has earned bachelor's and master's degrees from the Juilliard School as a classical violinist.

Personal life Meg Okura has been married to American jazz soprano saxophonist and composer Sam Newsome since 2004.

Honors and awards Chamber Music America New Jazz Works – 2018 The Grammy Award, 2015 (Nominee) Manhattan Community Arts Fund (Lower Manhattan Cultural Council)- 2013 & 2015 New Music USA Project Grant (New Music USA)- 2014 Brand Personality Award, The BrandLaureate Asia Pacific Brands Foundation)- 2012 Meet the Composer, Metlife Creative Connections Grant – 2008 Manhattan Community Art fund (LMCC)- 2008 American Composers Forum, Jerome Composers Commissioning Program- 2007–2008 Meet the Composer, Metlife Creative Connections Grant Urban Artist Initiative / NYC – 2006 2005 International Songwriting Competition (Honorable Mention) 2005 American University Saxophone Symposium Composition Contest (Honorable Mention) The 2003 John Lennon Songwriting Contest (Honorable Mention) The 2000 John Lennon Songwriting Contest (Honorable Mention)

Discography As A Leader IMA IMA by Pan Asian Chamber Jazz Ensemble (2018) – featuring Tom Harrell NPO Trio Live at The Stone (2018) Las Vegas Tango (2013) Music of Ryuichi Sakamoto by Pan Asian Chamber Jazz Ensemble (2013) Naima (Pan Asian Chamber Jazz Ensemble) (2010) Meg Okura's Pan Asian Chamber Jazz Ensemble (2006) Be Thou My Vision (Life Music Japan) Peace In My Heart (Life Music Japan)(1998) Never Alone (Life Music Japan)(2000)