Background
His father, Iwao Peter Sano, is a second generation Japanese American who, as a second son, was adopted by relatives in Japan.
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Stephen Sano
Edit ProfileEducation
University; San José State University
Sano graduated from San Jose State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Piano Performance and Theory from the studio of Aiko Onishi and worked as Executive Director of the Peninsula Symphony before attending where he earned his Master of Arts and Doctorate.M.A. in Choral and Orchestral Conducting under the guidance of William Ramsey.
Career
Sano is a native of Palo Alto, California. Sano"s mother, Minako Sano, is a graduate of Tsuda College. She immigrated from Tokyo to California in the 1950s.
Sano is currently the Chair of the Department of Music where he directs the Chamber Chorale and Symphonic Chorus, teaches conducting, and offers seminars in kī hō"alu and North American taiko.
He was the recipient of the 2004 Dean"s Award for Distinguished Teaching at and the 2001 Asian American Faculty Award. The Chamber Chorale is the University"s select group of 24 undergraduate and graduate student singers which, under Sano"s direction, records, tours annually, has collaborated with artists such as England"s Tallis Scholars.
The Choir of Trinity College, Cambridge. Chatham Baroque; Paco Peña.
And the Kronos Quartet, recorded a collection of works for Kirke Mechem, and premiered works by Melissa Hui, Takeo Kudo, Jonathan Berger, Giancarlo Aquilanti, and Howard Helvey.
The Symphonic Chorus is the university"s largest choir and includes students, faculty, staff and community members. In 2008, orchestra director, Jindong Cai, and Sano led the combined choirs, orchestra, Taiko, pianist Jon Nakamatsu and the Saint Lawrence String Quartet to China on a goodwill tour prior to the Beijing Summer Olympics. Sano is a student of kī hō"alu, or Hawaiian slack-key guitar, and has recorded two solo albums on the Daniel Ho Creations label and two collections of duets with his teacher and mentor, Ozzie Kotani.
Sano also teaches a seminar about the art form and actively supports the presentation of Hawaiian music at
A Celebration of Life.
Arsis Audio, 2009. Kirke Mechem: 7 Joys of Christmas and Beyond. Arsis Audio, 2005. Choral Reflections.
Pictoria Records, 2002. Voices of Christmas. Pictoria Records, 1999.
My Spirit Sang All Day: A Portrait in Song.
University Records, 1998. Songs from the Taro Patch: Na Mele Mai Na Lo’i Kalo. Daniel Ho Creations, 2007.
With Ozzie Kotani.
Omoide: Remembrance. Daniel Ho Creations, 2003. With Ozzie Kotani. A Taro Patch Christmas.
Daniel Ho Creations, 2001. Pu’ukani. Daniel Ho Creations, 2000.
Achievements
Membership
The elder Sano describes his experiences in Japan as a member of the Japanese Army and Russian prisoner of war in his book One Thousand Days in Siberia.
