Mission Statement

Music is a gift given to me, and it’s my mission to use it for the world around me to be a better place.  I want my music to be an experience of ingenuity and compassion.  

I live by being kind to others, my music is an honest reflection of my life.  In music, I lift up humanity by sharing emotions.  I play so that people can feel the joy that there is always enough to share.  I cry in music so that people don’t have to cry alone. 

Music is my choice of weapon to express my individuality.  I first became fascinated by the sound of Jazz when I was a high school exchange student from Japan in Portland, Oregon.  Strictly trained in classical music, it was liberating to express who I am in improvised performances. It was a thrill to get to know other people through music when I couldn’t speak English well.  music became more than just sounds, but a powerful communication tool.  Upon completing a bachelor's degree in Japan majoring America Study, I moved to New York City without hesitation, to meet my musical heroes and jam with musicians from all over the world.  

Music has opened many doors for me.  One of the great things to be a musician in New York City is that I get to create with people from diverse cultures. I came to perform and compose music in many styles.  We learn from differences, and more often we celebrate the commonalities.  The open-minded attitude that New York City nurtured in me brought me to the world, and not only to tour with my New York colleagues, but also enabled me to start collaboration projects with local musicians around the world.  From these experiences, I started “The Bridge Project” in 2008 to create a musical dialogue between Tokyo and New York City in an experimental environment.  I’m committed to keep learning from across the generations in my local and international music families, to keep moving the tradition forward and refine my musical voice along the way.  

I believe that music has power to lift up all humanity beyond social and personal barriers.  There are beauty in every emotions, and when they are expressed fully in empathic ways, music can magnify joy and heal sorrow.  Personal development and musicianship go hand in hand for me.  As long as I live my life fully, and face all that’s good and bad sincerely, I will always have something profound to say musically.  It is my life mission to keep creating.  

warmly,

Yayoi Ikawa

Photos on this website are by Roland S. Wilson