Biography

Composer, vocalist and educator Akiko Pavolka was born in Tokyo, Japan. She grew up in the city of Yokohama and was a member of several rock bands as a drummer and singer. Then she moved to Boston to study at Berklee, where she graduated and received the Cleo Laine award for Best Singer in 1994. In the following year, she moved to New York City where she created House of Illusion, the group with which she performs regularly at Joe’s Pub, Cornelia Street Café, The 55 Bar and Barbes, and with which she also tours South America, United States and Japan. Her upcoming fifth album as a leader, to be released in 2012, includes original pieces of music with Japanese lyrics performed by House of Illusion (Loren Stillman, Nate Radley, Matt Pavolka and Bill Campbell) and composer Guillermo Klein. Her previous albums are Trust Aqua and Begin Again (Tone of a Pitch), Bridge y House of Illusion (Blue Music Group). Her voice appears on Zummik Music, by Mizuyo Komiya, and Exit Row (Fresh Sounds, New Talent) as well as on her husband’s Something People Can Use (Tone of a Pitch). Akiko devotes a great deal of time to music education and is part of an arts training program promoted by the city of New York at public schools. Within this framework, she teaches piano to children from the Bronx.