Kanoko Nishi-Smith

piano, koto

Kanoko Nishi-Smith is a performer currently based in SF/Bay Area. Though classically trained on piano, receiving a BA in Classical Music Performance from Mills College, her recent interest has primarily been in performing 20th century and contemporary musical compositions for piano as well as for koto (Japanese 13-string zither), and free-improvisation in various different contexts, with musicians, as well as dancers, poets,
and visual artists.

Upcoming Events:

22Sep

Monday, September 22 2025 6:00 PM

Live Oak Park [1301 Shattuck Ave Berkeley, CA]
Wendy Reid's Ambient Bird-Live Oak
with sfSOUND, the bird ensemble,
and Brenda Hutchinson's dailybell
musicians:
Lulu, African Grey parrot
Wendy Reid, violin
Krys Bobrowski, gilsglas
Brenda Hutchinson, long tube
Aurora Josephson, voice
Ron Heglin, tuba
David Samas, percussion
Kanoko Nishi, koto
Ben Davis, cello
Diane Grubbe, flute
Matt Ingalls, clarinet
Brendan Lai-Tong, trombone
John Ingle, saxophone
David Michalak, skatch birds More...

5Nov

Wednesday, November 5 2025 7:00 PM

Dresher Ensemble Studio [2201 Poplar St Oakland]
Queen Bee Records Micro-Fest #3: DAY ONE

Two nights of freewheeling improvised music and creative jazz from some of the scene's most adventurous and exciting ensembles. Celebrating three new recordings out this fall on Berkeley's Queen Bee Records — the 7th, 8th and 9th! — in a series of 12 releases coming this year.

Wednesday Nov 5
*in collaboration with the West Oakland Sound Series*
oakland reductionist orchestra
with special guest sets by
Kristin Miltner (computer)
Roco Córdova (voice, electronics) + Theresa Wong (cello, voice) More...

CDs on which Kanoko Nishi-Smith appears:

Artist

Title

Label

Number

Bruckmann/Heule/Nishi-Smith/Rivero

negligiblism

Full Spectrum Records

FS158

Bruckmann/Djll/Heule/Nishi-Smith

Brittle Feebling

Bandcamp

The Emergency String (X)tet meet Rent Romus

Emergency Rental

Edgetone Records

EDT4100

Serving the San Francisco Bay Area New Music Community