Junko Moriya, a composer from Kanagawa, Japan, began studying classical piano when she was five years old.  By age 18, she was studying jazz piano and performing in the Waseda University High Society Orchestra, one of the most famous student big bands in Tokyo. After receiving her bachelor’s degree from Waseda University, Moriya lived in New York, where she studied with Harold Danko and received a master’s degree from the Manhattan School of Music. During this time, she performed at numerous jazz clubs in New York and in Europe. Since returning to Japan in 1993, Moriya has performed at jazz clubs, concert halls, and jazz festivals throughout Japan. She is known not only as a pianist, but also as a composer and arranger. Moriya performs with her own big band, the Junko Moriya Orchestra, which plays her original big band charts. Recently, a number of Japanese student big bands have selected her big band charts for their repertoire. Moriya also teaches jazz piano and theory at Shoubi Music University and the Yamano Music School. She directs big bands at junior high and high schools and appears on radio and television programs all across Japan.

Junko Moriya won the 2005 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Composers Competition, sponsored by BMI. Her winning composition, “Playground,” was chosen out of 51 submissions from around the world.

Written for a sextet of tenor saxophone, trumpet, guitar, piano, bass, and drums, “Playground” was performed with the composer on piano at the 2005 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Guitar Competition in Washington, DC on September 19, 2005 at the Kennedy Center.

MJF Debut!

	Saturday Afternoon - September 20, 2008 / 2:30pm
	Night Club / Bill Berry Stage