MAYU SAEKI

Mayu Saeki is a Japanese-born flutist, pianist, composer, recording artist, bandleader, and educator based in New York City, with a career spanning several decades across multiple musical traditions. She earned her Master of Music degree from the Elizabeth University of Music in 1998 and has built a multifaceted artistic life grounded in classical training, while deeply immersing herself in jazz and contemporary music. After relocating from Tokyo to New York, she became closely associated with NEA Jazz Master Chico Hamilton, joining his ensemble Euphoria and recording on Revelation and Euphoric (Joyous Shout! 2011), as well as Hamilton’s final album The Inquiring Mind (Joyous Shout! 2014), which features her composition “HOPE.”

In 2011, Saeki established herself as a bandleader by forming her own trio and making her leader debut at Jazz at the Kitano. She released her debut album as a leader, HOPE, on Brooklyn Jazz Underground Records in 2018. The album features original compositions including “Dilemma,” “Do You Know…?,” and “Hope,” with special guest Aaron Goldberg on piano, and Nori Ochiai (piano), Joe Sanders (bass), and John Davis (drums). Following the release, she toured the United States in duo and quartet formats, performing at venues such as Jazz at the Kitano (NYC), And Die Musik (Baltimore, MD), and The Nash (Phoenix, AZ). She was featured in DownBeat magazine (July 2018) and was nominated for the “Rising Star – Flute” category from 2019 through 2022.

As a highly sought-after sideman, Saeki has performed with Latin Grammy–winning artist Arturo O’Farrill, Grammy Award–winning alto saxophonist Mark Gross (+ Strings, MGQ 2018), Lewis Nash, the all-female Irish ensemble Four Celtic Voices, and the rock band Cosmos Sunshine. She has appeared in leading jazz clubs such as the Jazz Gallery and Birdland, and on rock stages including Brooklyn Bowl and Rockwood Music Hall, reflecting a career defined by versatility and depth.

In musical theater, Saeki has worked extensively in the pit as lead 1 (world flute) for productions including Miss Saigon, The Secret Garden, and Finding Neverland. She has also performed Off-Broadway in Fiddler on the Roof (Yiddish) at Stage 42. These engagements demonstrate her facility across diverse musical settings, from classical and jazz to theater performance.

Saeki is also an active and dedicated educator. She is currently a faculty member at Jazz House Kids in New York City, teaching piano classes and mentoring the next generation of musicians. In addition, she has delivered lectures and masterclasses at universities and festivals, sharing her knowledge and passion across diverse musical contexts. She has been a voting member of the Recording Academy since 2022.

Her classical work includes orchestral performances as a section player (not principal), opera, and ensemble projects. She has performed at Merkin Hall (NYC) and, in 2025, at Carnegie Hall, demonstrating the breadth of her decades-long career. Beginning in September 2025, she has also been appointed the resident pipe organist at Emmanuel Church in Queens, New York, further expanding her performance activities into classical and sacred music.

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​Trevor James Flutes Artist Page 

https://www.altoandbass.com/artists

Brooklyn Jazz Underground Records Artist Page 

http://www.bjurecords.com/mayu-saeki

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*The Master of Music
Educational reference and/or resume is available upon request.

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