Grammy nominee Andy Akiho tries to bring fun, energy to classical music while pushing its limits

Andy Akiho’s compositions are not just musical performances; they are immersive experiences that shatter the boundaries of classical music. The five-time Grammy nominee and Pulitzer Prize finalist is known for his innovative symphonies that captivate audiences of all ages.

A Japanese American composer, Akiho has thrilled audiences with music that features eye-popping elements like ping pong players, film of kung fu master Bruce Lee and most recently, a drumming performance on a huge bronze head sculpture. (At that concert, ushers at the Arlene Schnitzer Auditorium had to ask several audience members to put away their cameras.)

“I just want it to be an experience and something they’ve never seen before, never been a part of and something like if I were in the audience, what I would love to hear and be a part of musically and visually,” says Akiho.

“A lot of his music has a very visual aspect to it. But not in a gimmicky way,” says Jon Greeney, Akiho’s close friend and Oregon Symphony timpanist. “He brings fun to classical music.”

Akiho’s global impact is undeniable, with his compositions performed in prestigious venues like Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center and the Chatelet Theatre in Paris.

Personal connection is key

When Akiho sets out to compose music, he doesn’t just think about notes and instruments. He prioritizes spending time with the musicians to help sculpt his work.

“So I feel the energy, he says. “I feel like it does more for the composition and for me personally because I feel I’m being very honest with the musical conversation, the musical language. I’m just trying to tell the story from the experience of working with them.”

Relationships inspire Akiho’s compositions whether he’s collaborating with musicians, dancers or other artists. This personal approach has generated unique and exciting multidiscipline works of art.

Last year, he embarked on a particularly meaningful project, composing music to honor the renowned Japanese American Sculptor Jun Kaneko. Their friendship grew in Omaha, Kaneko’s hometown, where Akiho spent extensive time with the artist and his wife.

Introduced through the Omaha Symphony, Akiho found himself drawn to Kaneko’s artwork, describing it as spiritual and breathtaking. As a steel pannist, Akiho couldn’t resist tapping on Kaneko’s towering sculptures, eventually drumming on them and even convincing Kaneko to join in.

“It’s inspiring to make music out of these things,” says Akiho. “They feel like they were made to be instruments or made to sing. Some of them look like heads, like they want to speak, and it was fun bringing that out.”

Their collaboration culminated in the Grammy-nominated multimedia composition “Sculptures,” presented by the Omaha and Oregon Symphonies.

Playing Carnegie Hall with Jon Batiste’s Orchestra

Akiho’s talent has caught the attention of industry icons like Jon Batiste, the former bandleader on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. In 2022, Akiho played steel pan and percussions for Batiste’s American Symphony at Carnegie Hall.

“That was inspiring to meet all those musicians and to see how Jon worked,” he says.

Akiho was happy to get another chance to work with Batiste. Earlier, Batiste emailed Akiho “to do some stuff or maybe record in Portland for his CD that came out,” Akiho says.

But Akiho missed the offer, when he neglected to check his emails for months.

“A lot of people get upset at me or I lose a lot of opportunities because I’m not checking the emails. But I just need to get the art done,” he says. “I’m not good at multitasking. When I’m working on a piece, that becomes my life.”

He has hired a team to check his emails, giving him more freedom to focus on what he does best: crafting heartfelt music that transcends boundaries and excites audiences worldwide.