GARY FUKUSHIMA, a native of the Seattle area, started formal piano lessons at age eleven, and within a few years he was receiving honors at local competitions throughout the Puget Sound area. During this time, he also taught himself how to play jazz piano, resulting in outstanding soloist awards at many junior high and high school band festivals in the Pacific Northwest.

Gary received degrees in classical piano, jazz studies, and psychology at the University of Washington, where he studied under the tutelage of pianists Robin McCabe and Marc Seales. He has toured extensively throughout much of the United States with the Sabella Consort, a jazz/folk ensemble. In Seattle, he is working on a regular basis as a solo performer and with his own trio, in addition to recording and making appearances with many local artists.

Gary has performed in a variety of musicals including Grease and Anything Goes, and he served as musical director for the Northwest Asian American Theatre's acclaimed production of West Side Story in 1999. Gary is currently in his seventh year on the faculty at Pacific Lutheran University, where he teaches jazz piano.

Gary can be reached at g.fukushima@attbi.com.

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