About Reiko Obata

A Japanese American koto performer based in Southern California, Reiko Obata began studying koto in 1980 under masters in the U.S. and Japan including Mde. Masazumi Mizuno in San Diego, Mde. Kayoko Wakita in Los Angeles, and composer virtuoso Shinichi Yuize in Tokyo. Reiko has a master's degree in music from San Diego State University and a Japanese koto master's degree from the Seiha Conservatory of Japanese Music. Reiko Obata is a versatile and accomplished koto player, having performed with legendary jazz saxophonist Hollis Gentry III; San Diego Symphony cellist Mary Oda Szanto; shakuhachi composer John Kaizan Neptune; bassists Bill Andrews, Marshall Hawkins, and Gunnar Biggs; pianist composer David Ward-Steinman; guitarists Fred Benedetti and Jimmy Patton; San Diego Symphony principal flutist Demarre McGill and jazz flutist Louisa West; drummers Kevin Koch (Fattburger) and Russell Bizzett, and San Diego Symphony percussionist Jonathan Szanto; harpist Melissa Morgan; and Latin harpist Miguel Lopez.

Performance and entertainment venues include The Venetian-Las Vegas, Asian Art Museum of San Francisco, La Jolla Museum of Contemporary Art, San Diego Convention Center, Petco Park, San Diego Japanese Friendship Garden, Descanso Gardens-Pasadena, UC San Diego, San Diego State University, Sea World, Wild Animal Park, Barona, Viejas and Pechanga Casinos, Warner Brothers Studio, La Costa Resort & Spa, Neurosciences Institute, and the Idyllwild Jazz Festival. Clients include Microsoft, SIGGRAPH, Japan Society of San Diego & Tijuana, and Hisashi Otsuka. Events include World Baseball Classic Semifinals and Finals, America's Cup, and National Flute Association Conventions.

Reiko has performed for radio, film, and live theatre. Her music can be heard in Byron Barth's 2007 "The Art of Zen Shiatsu" DVD as well as Vivian Price's 2006 film "Transnational Tradeswomen." Obata performed koto, shamisen, and percussion in Dr. Marianne McDonald's play "...and then he met a woodcutter," San Diego Theatre Critics Circle's Best New Play 2005. She has been a featured performer at The Gathering Harp Festival and San Diego Folk Heritage Folk Festival. Reiko has been a performing artist in residence for San Diego Young Audiences. Obata has taught World Music at San Diego Mesa College. She performs musical accompaniment to multicultural folktales as part of Tales Alive!

Reiko has recorded several CDs of her own compositions and arrangements, "Serenity," "Sound of Kiri," as well as a self-titled jazz koto CD with her band East West. She has also recently released a first-ever English language koto instructional DVD, "You Can Play Koto" To book koto performances or entertainment music for business, social and academic functions, weddings or other events Contact Reiko.