Motoshi Kosako

International Jazz Harp Competition 2nd Place!

Motoshi was born in the sister city of Sacramento, Matsuyama City, Japan. Motoshi began his long pursuit of music at three years of age, with the piano, then continued with the guitar. His love of music has influenced his life deeply. In Japan all through his studies in The University of Tokyo, with university level Judo competition, and in becoming a sushi chef, music was always a driving beat to his life. This drive and rhythm comes through no matter what instrument he is playing. Whether he is performing for a private wedding or event, or performing on stage with his electric guitar. His dedication and passion are always evident in the preciseness of his playing.

Motoshi was never satisfied with just being a follower, he was constantly needing to learn from the best, and push himself to new limits. In Tokyo he played the acoustic and electric guitar in professional Jazz bands and the Swing Journal magazine described him as “one of the most remarkable young Jazz musicians.”

In 1997, Mr. Kosako moved to the United States and soon after, he gave up the guitar completely and started playing the harp. He is primarily self-taught with a few lessons from Dominique Piana of Holly Name College (Oakland, CA) to learn fundamental harp technique.

He began performing numerous concerts as a soloist and as an accompanist for singers, flutists and violinists. Writing music for productions, and playing for public events. In 2002 and 2003 he recorded his first two solo albums Celestial Harp I and Celestial Harp II. In 2006 Motoshi had the distinguished honor of being named principal harpist of the Stockton Symphony Orchestra, under the very capable baton of Conductor, Mr. Peter Jaffe. You can also see him playing for the Folsom Lake Symphony Orchestra, Sacramento Philharmonic Orchestra and many Choirs. Other places you will find him, is as a street musician performing for Art Festivals, Wine tastings, Wedding shows, and the like.

In early spring of 2006, Motoshi began to turn his mind to the possibility of playing jazz, his preference in music, on the harp. Motoshi spent many hours studying, listening to the greats, to other Jazz Harpists, and became convinced that he could, and would play, what he terms hard core jazz on the harp. Which brought him to Salt Lake City, August 1st, before the most qualified, respected Jazz Harp professional of our time, to play for them at the International Jazz Harp Competition. Where in he won 2nd place, with his "ground breaking" style.

Motoshi is now, focusing on his Jazz music, beginning to play with bands, enter Jazz Festivals, getting ready to do a recording, and looking at an international tour. Show less