Alumnus
Alumnus Takuya “Taku” Hirano ’91 has turned his love for and skill in music into a successful international career as a percussionist, recording artist, and record producer.
His training encompasses Classical concert percussion, jazz drum set, and traditional Afro-Cuban, Brazilian, West African, Middle Eastern, Indian, and Japanese styles and instruments.
Taku has performed in live shows in major arenas and stadiums in 30 countries across five continents, with such renowned bands and artists as Fleetwood Mac, Whitney Houston, John Mayer, Bette Midler, Stevie Nicks, Lionel Richie, Japanese pop superstar Utada Hikaru, Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, Annie Lennox, Steven Tyler, Usher, Pharrell, Shakira, Jennifer Hudson, Ed Sheeran, Smokey Robinson, Willie Nelson, Mary J. Blige, Ariana Grande, Patti LaBelle, Melissa Etheridge, Josh Groban, John Legend, Andrea Bocelli, Barry Manilow, and Bette Midler. He was the featured soloist on the world tour of the Cirque du Soleil show Michael Jackson: THE IMMORTAL, and he has also performed twice for President Nelson Mandela and three times for President Barack Obama.
Artists with whom Taku has recorded include Dr. Dre, Fleetwood Mac, Whitney Houston, Jay Z, The Temptations, Nelly Furtado, Stevie Nicks, Ziggy Marley, Jason Mraz, Josh Groban, Chromeo, and Lionel Richie. He has also recorded numerous major motion-picture scores and soundtracks, television shows, and commercials.
Taku was included in Origin Magazine’s 2015 list of Top 100 Creatives, and he has been the winner or runner-up in numerous industry awards since 2007.
Generously sharing his gift and passion for music, Taku has taught master classes and seminars at Berklee College of Music and NYU, and has served as an artist-in-residence at Carnegie Mellon University and as a teacher at the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz.