By Eleonora Kukuy
On Wednesday, June 24th, MHI had the opportunity to host a fireside chat with Mayu Saeki, moderated by Jenny Chen, a MHI board member. Guests tuned in from diverse locales such as Westchester, Brooklyn, and as far away as south Florida and even Germany. In our chat, Mayu gave us thoughtful insights about her career, personal life, important influences, and new album, “HOPE.” She also gifted us with some musical performances.
Mayu is a talented musician who plays the piano and flute. She has experience in classical, jazz, pop, rock, and even Celtic music. “Music was naturally my life” she explains of her early life, citing her music-loving father as an important influence. Ever since she started playing the piano at the age of 3, Mayu’s life has been filled with diverse musical experiences and accomplishments. From performing at opera and symphonies in Hiroshima to pop music in Tokyo to playing with NYC jazz bands to working with an off-Broadway production of Fiddler on the Roof to touring with a Celtic music band, Mayu has had an incredibly varied and enriching musical career.
One of Mayu’s biggest accomplishments, however, is the recent release of her very own album, “HOPE.” It is a compilation of some of her finest work. “When I play my music, I can [communicate] more than when I’m speaking,” she described in the chat. She vividly demonstrated her musical language by playing one of the compositions from her album on flute, as well as one of her favorite piano compositions that she learned as a child. Mayu reflects, “Music has always been a best friend by my side, giving me hope, and I wanted to give hope to the world through my music.”
Mayu attributes her success to her mentor and friend, Chico Hamilton, an NEA jazz master. She met him after she arrived in NYC and worked with him on three of his albums. He was her mentor until his passing in 2013. “He was more than music” she said in reference to her relationship with the musician. Mayu describes that he treated his hired musicians like "sons and daughters," welcoming everyone into his home for weekly rehearsals and chili dinners. Since his death, his students still correspond and keep his legacy and memory alive. From Chico, Mayu learned to be fearless of mistakes and as a result was able to break through her limits.
In addition, Mayu reflects on taking multiple risks throughout her career which have paid off. Despite some family pressure, cultural barriers after moving to the USA in 2009, and difficult language transitions, Mayu’s resilience and determination ultimately led her to success. “Just take a risk” she implored in our conversation. This golden advice can certainly apply to any career. Her advice for other hopeful musicians is, “Whatever instrument you like, go for it. Music is wonderful.”
Throughout the fireside chat, Mayu impressed us with her humbleness and sincerity. She is a reminder that with resilience and hope, we can realize our dreams and overcome any obstacle thrown at us along the way.
Like many other artists, Mayu has been impacted by the coronavirus pandemic by having to figure out ways to monetize her craft from home. She urges us to support artists by buying their albums online, registering for virtual music lessons, and donating to livestream concerts.
Please find Mayu’s album here and see our video for the full Fireside Chat and Mayu's performances.