Jacobs School of Music

Biography

Futaba Niekawa is lecturer in music (chamber and collaborative music) at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music.

Known for her verve and sensitivity, Niekawa pushes the boundaries of her artistry as a soloist and collaborative pianist across genres and disciplines. She has performed throughout the United States, Canada, England, Spain, Taiwan, and Japan, her native country. She has released four recordings (PARMA Recordings, Petrichor Records), and her live performances have been recorded for radio broadcast.

In demand as a collaborative pianist, Niekawa has performed with Atar Arad, James Campbell, Charles Castleman, Gabriele Ragghianti, and the members of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chicago Symphony Orchestra, among others. She has been engaged as a collaborative pianist at the Banff Centre, New England Conservatory, Boston Ballet School, Meadowmount School of Music, Clarinet Festival at Brandon University, Henri Selmer Paris Summer Academy, and the IU Summer String Academy. Her long-term duo partnership with violinist Kerry DuWors, duo526, has led to numerous performances, recordings, and artist residencies at the Banff Centre and Avaloch Farm Music Institute. Niekawa’s passion for multidisciplinary collaboration and performing music of her generation have developed into artistic partnerships with composers, dancers, poets, and visual artists. In her leisure time, she plays free improvisation.

Niekawa earned her Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the Eastman School of Music. She is dedicated to pedagogy, mentoring, and performance practice. She shares her passion through workshops at duo526’s annual Sonata Seminar and has been invited as a guest teacher at universities in North America including the University of Calgary, University of Northern Colorado, Brandon University, and the University of Central Missouri.