Yuko Maruyama

Pianist-composer-arranger Yuko Maruyama is from Tokyo, Japan. She graduated from the University of Southern California with a master’s degree in Jazz Studies. She was named the "Outstanding Graduate"by the department and her original composition "Twilight" was featured in Jazz at USC, the first CD produced by the department. As a classical pianist, she was a first prize winner in the Piano Teacher's Association of America's Duo Piano Competition in San Diego.

Yuko works professionally as a performing and recording artist in the musical styles of classical, jazz, fusion, salsa, pop, R & B, and Latin jazz. She regularly performs with her own band in both the United States and in Japan. She has headlined at jazz clubs such as: The Jazz Bakery, The Baked Potato, and Lunaria; appeared at festivals including: the Orange County Metro Jazz Festival and the Nisei Japanese Festival in Los Angeles.

Yuko has been the featured performer at several prestigious engagements including the California Welcome Receptions for Consul General and Mrs. Masaharu Kohno; for the former Japanese Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi; for the International Citizens Award Event for Mr. Yoshikazu Hanawa, Chairman and CEO of The Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. and at numerous benefit events including the "Concert of the Century II" with artists Hiroshima and Kilahuea; and the Los Angeles Pacific Asian Heritage Festival.Yuko is also active in scoring original soundtracks for multimedia and television productions including the recent television documentary, Teaching Us to See.

Yuko's album entitled In Tone Nation contains all original compositions and was the first recording to feature the Shigeru Kawai grand piano. The CD was released as both a stereo audio CD and as a DVD audiophile recording that features both a DVD Audio 5.1 Surround mix and a 96kHZ/24-bit Advanced Resolution Stereo version.