Kako Hayashi

Kako Hayashi graduated this spring with a Bachelor of Music from the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University, where she studied with Dr. Jon Kimura Parker. A recipient of the Shepherd Society Award and a consistent Presidential Honor Roll scholar, she was named a Finalist in the 2025 Shepherd School Concerto Competition and received a top prize at the Young Texas Artists Music Competition. She will continue her studies with Prof. Alexander Kobrin at the Eastman School of Music, pursuing a Master of Music degree.

Recent highlights include being selected as the sole featured student performer to open the Shepherd School’s 2025 Convocation and appearing in the Spotlight Recital Series at Harris Concert Hall during the Aspen Music Festival and School. She has performed as a soloist with the Orchestra Virtuosi Brunenses and the Sacramento Youth Symphony, and has collaborated with ensembles including the Texas Medical Center Orchestra and the Houston Youth Symphony.

Kako formerly studied with Prof. Alexandre Moutouzkine and Mrs. Akiko Gaffney. She has also benefited from summer programs, including the Aspen Music Festival and School and Bay Pianofest in 2025, and will continue her studies at PianoTexas and the Chautauqua Piano Program this summer. She has participated in masterclasses with renowned artists, including Arie Vardi, Yoheved Kaplinsky, Alan Chow, Roman Rabinovich, Akiko Ebi, and Victor Rosenbaum. An avid chamber musician, she recently performed the Brahms Piano Trio No. 1, Ravel Trio, and Arensky Trio No. 1 at the Shepherd School of Music, bringing a unique perspective to collaboration as a former violinist and concertmaster.