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:

19Mar

Thursday, March 19 2026 7:30 PM

Wyldflowr Arts [809 37th St, Oakland Oakland]
Mariah Auler + Kumi Maxson + Kanoko Nishi-Smith More...

20Mar

Friday, March 20 2026 6:30 PM

Indian Rock Park [LOCATION: Indian Rock Park: 950 Indian Rock Ave, Berkeley 94707 -just west of the rock, under the trees -there is no formal seating so bring a blanket, chair, or sit on the rock]
Wendy Reid'S AMBIENT BIRD-INDIAN ROCK
sfSOUND musicians join the Bird Ensemble in a Spring Equinox outdoor performance of Ambient Bird-Indian Rock, with Brenda Hutchinson’s Dailybell at sunset

musicians:
Lulu, African Grey parrot
Wendy Reid, violin
Brenda Hutchinson, long tube
Krys Bobrowski, glisglas
Ron Heglin, tuba
Kanoko Nishi, koto
Tom Djll, trumpet
Brendan Lai-Tong, trombone
Matt Ingalls, clarinet
John Ingle, saxophone
David Michalak, skatchbirds More...

22Mar

Sunday, March 22 2026 7:30 PM

Temescal Arts Center [511 48th Street Oakland]
SixtyHurts Records presents Tashi Dorji, Kanoko Nishi-Smith, Zachary James Watkins More...

2May

Saturday, May 2 2026 6:00 PM

Hosfelt Gallery [260 Utah Street San Francisco, CA]
Sonic Improvisation Trio x Japanese Wine x Bento Box

Featuring: Kanoko Nishi-Smith (koto), Theresa Wong (cello) and Haruka Fujii (percussion) More...

CDs on which Kanoko Nishi-Smith appears:

Artist

Title

Label

Number

oakland reductionist orchestra

west and east baying

Queen Bee Records

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