M E G O K U R A

composer. violinist.

"grandiloquent beauty that transitions easily from grooves to big cascades to buoyant swing."

The New York Times

EXPLORE

BLOGS

Big Week Ahead in NYC- Winter JazzFest!

Jan 6

"How Do You Get To Carnegie Hall or Winter JazzFest?"

Dec 30, 2024

Okonomi Latke Recipe

Dec 16, 2024

EVENTS

Friday, October 18, 2025
Mise-en Place Harlem
Unheard-Of Ensemble (feat. Phantasmagoria for Bs. Clarinet, Violin, and Cello by Meg Okura)

Friday, November 7, 2025
The Stone – 55 W. 13th Street (at Sixth Ave.), New York, NY
Meg Okura Project featuring Meg Okura (violin), Sam Newsome (soprano sax), Angelica Sanchez (piano)

Sunday, November 16, 2025
Richard and Karen Carpenter Performing Arts Center – Long Beach, CA
Symphonic Jazz Orchestra featuring Terri Lyne Carrington (drums) Conductor: Mitch Glickman

World premiere of Shaon Overture / The Clock Overture by Okura, featuring Meg Okura (violin)

January 19, 2026
Single "Jubberish" drops

Album "Isaiah" Pre-sale

Thursday, January 29, 2026

Cook Recital Hall at Billman Music Pavilion

Michigan State University

East Lansing, MI

Debut of the Adama Quartet

Guy Yehuda (clarinet), Tasha Warren (bass clarinet), Meg Okura (violin), Dave Eggar (cello)

World premiere of “Three Threads of Tekuma” by Okura, a suite for clarinet, bass clarinet, violin, and cello

*Frida-Saturday, February 6-7, 2026
Smalls, New York, NY
Emilio Solla & La Inestable de Brooklyn

*a sideman gig

February 9, 2026
Single "Sushi Gadol" drops

Thursday, February 19, 2026
The Jazz Gallery – New York, NY
Pan Asian Chamber Jazz Ensemble

20th Anniversary Album “Isaiah” Release Concert

February 20, 2026
ALBUM ISAIAH DROPS!

Sunday, February 22, 2026
Fontana Chamber Arts – Kalamazoo, MI
Meg Okura Trio

*March 29, 2026

BIG EARS 2026

Knoxville, TN

Brian Marsella’s iMAGiNARiUM

*a sideman gig

Friday, April 17, 2026

Showroom at the Colonial

Keene, NH

Meg Okura Group or the PACJE (tbd after November 15)

“A profound musical statement—emotionally rich, expansive, and visionary.”

- Regina Carter,

NEA Jazz Master

OUT 2.20.26

Go to ISAIAH

Join Meg's Substack

Subscribe to Meg Okura's Substack to stay connected with the latest news, releases, and exclusive content. Meg Okura is an Issei Japanese American composer and violinist — a Jew by choice, iconoclast, and cultural oxymoron. She writes what others whisper: about identity, hypocrisy, and the paradox of the American dream.

RECENT HONORS

Symphonic Jazz Orchestra George Duke Commissioning Prize

The Symphonic Jazz Orchestra is pleased to announce Meg Okura as the recipient of SJO’s 9th Annual George Duke Commissioning Prize. This prize was created to honor the legacy of George Duke, SJO’s Co-Music Director from 2004 until his passing in 2013.

Meg Okura is an acclaimed jazz violinist, composer, and bandleader whose musical journey has been defined by innovative cross-cultural collaborations. Her unique artistic vision bridges classical training, jazz improvisation, and multicultural influences. READ MORE on Culver City Crossroads

ISJAC Fundamental Freedoms Commission Prize

Meg Okura was awarded the prestigious 2023 International Society of Jazz Arrangers and Composers Fundamental Freedoms Commission Prize. The world premiere of her latest big band work, "Silent Screams: An Anthem for the Unheard," took place on May 18, 2024, during the International Society of Jazz Arrangers and Composers Symposium at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN. The piece was brought to life by the Ryan Middagh Jazz Orchestra, featuring a captivating tenor saxophone solo by Jeff Coffin and a performance by Meg Okura on the violin, all under the direction of Grammy-nominated composer Mike Holober.

BRIO Awards

Meg Okura has proudly received the BRIO Awards for the second time, being recognized for her outstanding work in Musical Composition in both 2024 and 2022. This prestigious honor, awarded by Bronx Council On The Arts, highlights her exceptional talent and contributions to the music scene in New York. Her dedication and creativity continue to inspire many making her an important figure in the community. Congratulations to Meg Okura on this remarkable achievement!

LunART Festival

Meg Okura has been awarded the LunART for Scores 2024. Her captivating piece "Phantasmagoria" was performed at the LunART 2024 Festival, featuring magnificent musicians, Alicia Lee on clarinet, Isabella Lippi on violin, and Magdalena Sas on cello. This performance highlights Okura's innovative compositional style and her contribution to contemporary Classical music.

WATCH their performance of "Phantasmagoria" on YOUTUBE

The International Alliance for Women in Music 2023 Search for New Music Competition

Congratulations to all of the women composers who won the International Alliance for Women in Music (IAWM) the 2023 Search for New Music Competition! We are thrilled to share that Meg Okura has been awarded the 2023 Portland Jazz Composers Ensemble Prize This recognition highlights the incredible talent and creativity of women composers in the music industry. We look forward to seeing how these artists continue to shape the future of music!

Fall 2023 Jazz Road Artist

Meg Okura and Kevin Hays are thrilled to their recent success in winning the Fall 2023 Jazz Road Tours grant, enabling them to take their dynamic jazz duo on tour across Hawaii. As a talented jazz composer and violinist, Meg Okura teams up with the exceptional pianist Kevin Hays to deliver original compositions and fresh interpretations of jazz standards. Their musical journey commenced in Harlem in 2014, culminating in their debut performance at the renowned "Stone" in New York City in 2016. Join them as they continue to captivate audiences with their innovative sound and passion for jazz.