Dr. Erena Terakubo

Biography

Erena Terakubo is an internationally acclaimed saxophonist, flutist, clarinetist, composer, and educator from Sapporo, Japan. With a reputation for expressive artistry and technical mastery, she has performed on stages across five continents with respected names in jazz including Kenny Barron, Ron Carter, Louis Hayes, Christian McBride, Jimmy Cobb, and Jon Faddis. Terakubo's career began at an extraordinary pace—while still in high school, she recorded her debut album 'North Bird', which reached #1 on the Japanese jazz charts and earned the Swing Journal's prestigious Gold Disc award. She has released six albums as a leader and performed at world-renowned venues and festivals such as Blue Note Tokyo, Dizzy’s Club, Birdland Jazz Club, Smoke Jazz Club, Hollywood Bowl, and Kennedy Center. Terakubo is also deeply committed to music education and has led workshops, clinics, and masterclasses in the United States, Japan, and Europe. In 2025, she joined the faculty at Michigan State University as an Assistant Professor of Jazz Saxophone, combining her global performance experience with a dedication to mentoring the next generation of jazz artists. Terakubo strives to inspire students through music and to help them find joy and freedom in music-making.

Research Interests

Experience