Pianist Naoki Hakutani has performed solo and chamber recitals in Korea, Japan, China,
Mexico and throughout the United States. Recent performances have been in the Seoul Arts
Center, Sejong Arts Center, Ilshin Art Hall, Shimsan Art Hall, Qingdao People’s Auditorium,
Wenzao Ursuline University, Osaka University, University of Idaho, Middle Tennessee State
University and Bowling Green State University. He was recently invited to present lecture
recitals at Sungkyul University and Chosun University on Romantic music literature. Also he
was invited to present a recital featuring the music of Rachmaninoff at Yongsan Art Hall as a
recipient of a generous grant from the Seoul Foundation for Arts and Culture.
Originally from Kent, Ohio, Dr. Hakutani holds degrees in piano performance from
Northwestern University, Indiana University at Bloomington and the University of Texas at
Austin. Currently, an Associate Professor of Piano at the University of Arkansas at Little
Rock, Dr. Hakutani is very active nationally and internationally as an educator, having
conducted classes and lectures throughout the United States, Mexico and Asia. He was
visiting professor at Sunchon National University in Fall of 2014.
Most recently, he presented master classes at Sejong University, Honam Theological
University, Sungkyul University, Jiangsu Normal University, University of Idaho and
Bowling Green State University. He often presents seminars and workshops throughout the
United States and Asia. Recently he was a guest speaker at the Mississippi Music Teachers
Association (MMTA) Independent Music Teachers Forum.
In addition to being a past recipient of the Arkansas State Music Teachers Association
Teacher of the Year Award, Dr. Hakutani was the 2019 College Level Winner (College of Arts
Letters and Sciences) of the UA Little Rock Faculty Excellence Award in Teaching. In 2021,
Hakutani was inducted into the Steinway & Sons Teacher Hall of Fame in New York City.
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