M.MORI (MADOKA MORI)

“I feel she has an uncharted talent. There exist infinite possibilities in Ms.Mori’s ability.” ―Toshi Ichiyanagi (Ongaku Gendai Magazine in Japan) ―

“Her music reflects her extraordinary talent and intelligence” ― The Japan News (Yomiuri Shinbun)―

Madoka MORI (1994-) is a composer and 2023 Asian Cultural Council Fellow recognized for cross-cultural and interdisciplinary projects across Japan, the U.S., and Europe. Discovered early in her career by Toshi Ichiyanagi (1933–2022, John Cage Award), she went on to become the youngest recipient of the Toshi Ichiyanagi Contemporary Prize and has since been commissioned by leading institutions including Suntory Hall and Tokyo Opera City Cultural Foundation. Her works have been performed internationally at festivals such as Music From Japan, the Chelsea Music Festival, and the Smithsonian Institution’s Meyer Concert Series, as well as by major orchestras including the Tokyo Philharmonic and Kanagawa Philharmonic.

Awards and Honors 

■Asian Cultural Council Fellow (2023) – Awarded a prestigious fellowship in New York to support intercultural artistic activity.
■83rd Music Competition of Japan – Second Prize (2014) – [Atrium of Sound for Cello and Orchestra]. Received at the age of 20, as one of the youngest awardees in the competition’s history. This composition led to her discovery by Toshi Ichiyanagi.
■Toshi Ichiyanagi Contemporary Prize – Youngest Recipient (2018) – Selected by the eminent composer Toshi Ichiyanagi, becoming the youngest awardee in the prize’s history.

Major Commissioned Works

■Double Concerto Janus for Violin, Cello and Orchestra (2020) – Commissioned by Suntory Hall Summer Festival (Producer Series, curated by Toshi Ichiyanagi). Premiered by Michiaki Ueno (cello) and Kazuhito Yamane (violin) with the Suntory Hall Academy Orchestra.

■Phoenix for Solo Cello (2022) – Commissioned by Michiaki Ueno, produced by Tokyo Opera City Cultural Foundation for the prestigious B→C (Bach to Contemporary) recital series, premiered by Michiaki Ueno (cello). Subsequently re-performed at Suntory Hall Main Hall (Kajimoto Presents, 2024), given its European premiere at Schlosskonzerte Bad Iburg, Germany (2023), and scheduled for international release by La Dolce Volta (France, 2025).

■Waka for Violin, Cello and Koto (2025) – Commissioned and world premiered by Interwoven at the Smithsonian Institution’s Meyer Concert Series, National Museum of Asian Art, Washington, D.C.

■Vocalise for Solo Cello (2018) – Commissioned by cellist Michiaki Ueno and premiered under the Kanagawa Arts Foundation’s Music Crossroad project. Since then, it has been performed internationally, including its U.S. premiere at the Music From Japan Festival (2023, Chris Gross), a New York performance by NACMS (James Kim, 2023), and its Korean premiere (James Kim, Seoul, 2023).

■Prelude to the Unchurched for Piano (2022) – Commissioned as the required work for the Semifinals of the PTNA Piano Competition “Special Grade”, Japan’s largest piano competition, performed by all semifinalists.

■Appreciating the Present of Japanese Arts (2023) Opera without words for Baritone and Viola – Original work composed for Mori’s first self-produced project, selected as a Suntory Hall Recommendation Concert, in collaboration with leading figures such as Shinichiro Ikebe (advisor) and Yuji Akimoto (curator).

■Friends for Viola and Piano(2024) – Commissioned by violist Ayako Tahara for her B→C recital at Tokyo Opera City Cultural Foundation, scored for viola and piano.

■Sanbasou fro Shakuhachi, Shamisen, Koto and Okawa (2022) – Commissioned by Shujiro Honjo in collaboration with the Kanagawa Arts Foundation, created for the project Extreme Love commemorating Toshi Ichiyanagi’s 20th year as artistic director.

■Myth for solo Violin  (2021) – Commissioned by violinist Kyoko Ogawa for her recital at Daikanyama Hillside Plaza Hall, Tokyo.

■Aoide for viola solo (2018) ―Commissioned by Ayako Tahara. Premiered at Ayako Tahara viola recital

Other Works

Orchestral Works

■Atrium of Sound for cello and orchestra (2014/2018) – Awarded Second Prize at the 83rd Music Competition of Japan (2014); the work that led to Mori’s discovery by composer Toshi Ichiyanagi.Chamber Music. Premiered by Kenji Nakagi and Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra. Has performed by Michiaki Ueno, Toho Gakuen Orchestra(2015) and Kanagawa Philharmonic Orchestra (2018).

Chamber Music Works

■The Song Without Words for cello and piano (2024) (also arranged for viola and piano) –Dedicated to Christina Walevska, premiered by Andy LIN(Viola) and Madoka Mori in NYC

■Inheritance and Innovation for viola and piano –Dedicated to Carol Rattery, premiered by Andy Lin and Madoka Mori in NYC

■Just Last Night for voice and piano – Dedicated to Shining Sung, premiered by Marisa Karchin and Madoka Mori in NYC.

Solo Works

■Couture for piano (2024) – Dedicated to Josie Natori, premiered by Madoka Mori in NYC

■Letter Series for piano (2019, 2024)

1) to everyone who loves music(2019)

2) to Mark : More than words (2024)

3) to McKellen, Taigen and their baby : The first greeting from music (2024)

4) to Eva : The Chatau of music in Devon (2024)

5) to Raulee : Kodou (Heartbeat)(2024)

6) to Joe and Katie : Heroic Heart(2024)

7) to the memory of ACC (2024)

Arrangement works

■Core ‘ngrato (2020) – Commissioned by Kei Yonashiro, Produced by Suntory Hall and Japan Philharmonic Orchestra. Premiered by Kei Yonashiro and Japan Phi.  at the Suntory hall Totteoki Afternoon Concert.

■Hamabe for Viola and Piano (2015)　- Commissioned by Ayako Tahara. Premiered at Ayako Tahara Viola Ricital Tokyo Bynkakaikan Morning concert.

Furusato (Hometown) for viola and piano (2016) – Commissioned by Ayako Tahara. Premiered at Ayako Tahara Viola Ricital

■Autumn leaves for Violin,Viola and Piano (2016) – Commissioned by Yuna Toki and Ayako Tahara. Premiered at Yuna Toki and Ayako Tahara Chanel prmagion days concert seriese.

■Sakura for Viola solo (2017)( 2018 Japan premiere, 2023 U.S. premiere) * can be performed by cello/ violin. – Originally premiered in Paris, later performed at the Chelsea Music Festival (NYC, 2023) by Ayako Takara (viola), and re-performed by Andy Lin with the New Asia Chamber Music Society (2024). 

■Dragon Flies for Viola and Piano (2018) – Commissioned by Ayako Tahara. Premiered by Ayako Tahara and Yui Harashima. It was performed by Izumiko Aoyagi and its recording is up on youtube. US premiere by Andy Lin and Madoka Mori in 2024.*can be performed by Violin

Selected Performances & Premieres

Suntory Hall Summer Festival 2020 (Tokyo, Japan) – Commissioned composer in the Producer Series curated by Toshi Ichiyanagi; premiere of Double Concerto Janus.

B→C (Bach to Contemporary) Recital Series, Tokyo Opera City (2022 & 2024) – Commissioned works including Phoenix for cello (premiered by Michiaki Ueno) and Friends for viola and piano (commissioned by Ayako Tahara).

Suntory Hall Main Hall Michiaki Ueno Cello Recital– Kajimoto Presents (2024) – Phoenix re-performed at cellist Michiaki Ueno’s recital, programmed alongside works by Dai Fujikura, Toru Takemitsu, and Toshiro Mayuzumi.

Kanagawa Arts Foundation Projects (2018, 2022) – Premieres of Vocalise (2018, Music Crossroad), [Atrium of Sound for Cello and Orchestra](2018 revised version.) and Sanbasou (2022, Extreme Love – 20th anniversary of Toshi Ichiyanagi’s directorship).

Appreciating the Present of Japanese Arts (2023, Suntory Hall Recommendation Concert) – Mori’s first self-produced interdisciplinary project combining music, fine arts, and floral art.

Schlosskonzerte Bad Iburg (Germany, 2023) – European premiere of Phoenix for solo cello.

Music From Japan Festival (New York, 2023) – U.S. premiere of Prologue for String Quartet (Momenta Quartet) and Vocalise for Cello Solo (Chris Gross); composer talk at Columbia University.

Chelsea Music Festival (New York, 2023) – U.S. premiere of Sakura for viola, performed by Ayako Takara.

Smithsonian Institution – Meyer Concert Series (Washington, D.C., 2025) – World premiere of Waka for violin, cello and koto, performed by Interwoven.

Chofu Music Festival (2016) – Hamabe and Furusato were performed by Ayako Tahara and Yui Harashima.

Nong Project (Korea, 2014) - Korea premiere of Cello Sonata.

Major Performers / Orchestras

Orchestras

■Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra – Japan’s oldest and largest symphony orchestra; performed Mori’s orchestral works[Atrium of Sound for Cello and Orchestra].

■Japan Philharmonic Orchestra – Premiered Mori’s orchestral arrangement of Catarì, Catarì (2020, Suntory Hall Special Afternoon Concert).

■Kanagawa Philharmonic Orchestra – Performed [Atrium of Sound for Cello and Orchestra] (2018, Kanagawa Arts Foundation project Music Cross Road).

■Suntory Hall Academy Orchestra – Premiered Double Concerto Janus (2020) under the direction of Toshi Ichiyanagi’s Producer Series.

■Toho Gakuen Orchestra – Performed Mori’s works with conductor Toshiaki Umeda and soloist Michiaki Ueno at the subscription concert.

Soloists & Ensembles

Michiaki Ueno, cello – Winner of the Geneva International Music Competition (2021); premiered Phoenix (2022, Tokyo Opera City), re-performed at Suntory Hall Main Hall (Kajimoto, 2024), and gave the European premiere in Germany (2023).Commissioned and premiered [Vocalise for solo cello], performed [Atrium of sound for Cello and Orchestra] in 2015 and 2018.

Ayako Tahara, viola – Leading violist in Japan; commissioned Aoide and Friends for viola and piano (Tokyo Opera City, 2024) and arrangement works. Performed Sakura in Paris and at the Chelsea Music Festival (New York, 2023).

Andy Lin, viola – Artistic Director of the New Asia Chamber Music Society (New York); re-performed Sakura, Dragon Flies. Premiered Inheritance and Innovation, The song without words in New York (2024).

Chris Gross, cello – Member of the International Contemporary Ensemble (New York); gave the U.S. premiere of Vocalise (Music From Japan, 2023).

James Kim, cello – Performed Vocalise with NACMS (2023) and gave the Korean premiere in Seoul (2023).

Kazuhito Yamane, violin – Premiered Double Concerto Janus with Michiaki Ueno and the Suntory Hall Academy Orchestra (2020).

Kyoko Ogawa, violin – Commissioned and premiered Myth for violin solo (2021).

Kei Yonashiro, baritone – Premiered orchestral arrangement of Catarì, Catarì with the Japan Philharmonic Orchestra (2020); featured in Appreciating the Present of Japanese Arts (2023).

Hidejiro Honjo, shamisen – Leading Japanese shamisen performer; commissioned Sanbasou (2022, Kanagawa Arts Foundation).

Fumika Mohri, violin – International prize-winning violinist; commissioned Silent night and premiered at Christmas concert.

Interwoven (New York) – Intercultural chamber ensemble bridging Asian traditional and Western classical music; premiered Waka at the Smithsonian Institution’s Meyer Concert Series (2025).

Momenta Quartet (New York) – Acclaimed string quartet dedicated to contemporary music; premiered Prologue for String Quartet at the Music From Japan Festival (2023).

Collaborators non music 

Susumu Koshimizu, sculptor – One of Japan’s foremost contemporary sculptors, associated with the Mono-ha movement; collaborated with Mori in 2021 at Tokyo Gallery + BTAP.

Yuji Akimoto, curator – Former director of the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa, and founding director of the Benesse Art Site Naoshima; collaborated on Appreciating the Present of Japanese Arts (2023).

Hiroko Takeda, floral artist / Yuki Nara, visual artist – Collaborated with Mori on Appreciating the Present of Japanese Arts (2023).

Sao Ohtake – Created projection mapping interacted with Cello sound, for B to C project by Tokyo Opera City.

Akira Shirai, stage director – General Artistic Director of the Kanagawa Arts Theatre (KAAT); collaborated with Mori on the Kanagawa Arts Foundation’s “Music Crossroad” project, integrating projection mapping and music.

Artistic Production (Produced Project)

■Appreciating the Present of Japanese arts (2023)　 *Suntory Hall Recommendation Concert 

Baritone : Kei Yonashiro / Viola: Ayako Tahara 

Artistic Director: Madoka MORI / Executive Director: Nana Kamiyama / Advicer: Shinichiro Ikebe / Curator : Yuji Akimoto/ Visual Art : Yuki Nara / Flower Design : Hiroko Takeda  / Assistant : Sao Ohtake / Comiho

Academic Services 

■Toho Gakuen School of Music (2017–2022) – Became the youngest lecturer in the history of the institution.

■Columbia University (2023) – Invited guest speaker as part of the Music From Japan Festival; delivered a lecture and participated in a public composer talk alongside international scholars and artists.

Press & Featured Book

National Press – Mori’s projects and performances have been covered in major Japanese newspapers including Asahi Shimbun, Nikkei Shimbun, Yomiuri Shimbun, Kanagawa Shimbun, and by national wire service Kyodo News.

Specialized Media – Featured in leading classical music and arts magazines such as Ongaku no Tomo, Mostly Classic, and Pia Classic, as well as visual arts publications including Art Collectors and Bijutsu Techo.

Featured Book – Mori’s career was profiled in How to Live as a Musician (Artes Publishing), authored by musicologist Izumiko Aoyagi.