Ráyo Furuta
Renowned as “The Rockstar of the Flute” by the Informador de Guadalajara in Mexico, Mexican-Japanese American flutist Ráyo Furuta stands as a captivating artist and performer of global acclaim with command over the classical, contemporary, world, jazz, and pop realms.
At the remarkably young age of 25, Furuta was officiated as a cultural ambassador to the United States of America. Since then, he has showcased his virtuosity as both a performer and educator on the international stage, gracing audiences in Mexico, Japan, Austria, the Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary, and across the Middle East and North America. His prestigious performances include those with Yo-Yo Ma’s Silkroad Ensemble, The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, The United Nations, and the celebrated Mainly Mozart, Okayama, Sarasota, and Yellowbarn Music Festivals.
Furuta’s dynamic presence extends to solo performances, frequently appearing as a concerto soloist specializing in the contemporary concerti by composers Gabriela Lena Frank, Yuko Uebayashi, and Paul Schoenfield. As a touring soloist and alongside is longtime duo partner Michelle Cann, he has masterfully interpreted the cornerstones of the flute repertoire, while simultaneously building it with his own arrangements and compositions. Additionally, Furuta's band "Para Linda," paying homage to the iconic Linda Ronstadt and reflecting a significant influence on Furuta's artistic identity, has garnered significant acclaim. The band is poised to embark on international tours during the 24-25 season, further solidifying Furuta's musical impact on a global scale.
As a dedicated chamber musician he has performed alongside luminaries like Jon Nakamatsu, Peter Frankl, and members of acclaimed string quartets like Avalon, Brooklyn Rider, Kronos, Mendelssohn, and Emerson. His passion for global music has led to performances with superstars Van Anh Vo (Danh Tranh), Sandeep Das (Indian Tabla), Vijay Gopal (Bansuri), Merima Kljuco (Accordion), Ghassan Sahhab (Qanun), and Christina Pato (Galacian Bagpipe) to name only a few. He is a artist-member of the global fusion Common Sounds ensemble has also regularly performed with the Mexico-city based Contemporary Mexican Jazz Band, Toktli.
Furuta serves as a Professor of Flute and Chamber Music at San Jose State University and as a Lecturer of Performance Practice and Community Engagement at Santa Clara University, where he was recently honored with a distinguished ”Francisco Jimenez Reaching Out” faculty award for his commitment to serving marginalized communities around the world. He has also shared his expertise through residencies and master classes at esteemed institutions including The Juilliard School, as well as the Oberlin Conservatory, San Francisco Conservatory of Music, Stanford University, Lebanese American University of Beirut, University of Guadalajara, and many more. Additionally, he has served as a Visiting Professor of Flute at the Cleveland Institute of Music and was the hand-selected teaching assistant to the Emerson String Quartet – the only wind player in history to be invited to hold this title. In 2024, The Music Teacher’s National Association (MTNA) awarded Furuta with the prestigious “Power of Innovation” award presented to a young professional artist and teacher who embodies an entrepreneurial spirit and innovative approach in their life and work.
Ráyo Furuta has channeled his passion for community and civic engagement into a substantial part of his musical journey. Through his “Mas Amor Arts” initiative, he has consistently undertaken initiatives aimed at underserved communities, including involvement in local juvenile detention centers and collaborative endeavors benefiting unhoused women of color and California’s Farmworkers. Furthermore, he has instituted an annual project in marginalized areas of Tijuana, Mexico, offering music education to youth as a means of diverting them from the streets. His commitment extends globally, as he has also delivered performances to Syrian and Palestinian refugees in the Middle East.
Recognized as a distinguished curator, Furuta assumes the role of Executive-Artistic Director for Chamber Music Silicon Valley, a preeminent arts organization in California of whose programs include an annual chamber music festival, seasonal concert projects, and an emerging artist fellowship program for budding classical musicians of color. He also oversees the weekly Music@Noon concert series at Santa Clara University. His innovative spirit and commitment to advancing the arts earned him the prestigious 2018 X-Factor Arts Prize, which lauds entrepreneurial and creative ideas in the arts sector, as well as the 2019 “On the Stage” Artist Laureate of SVCreates, a recognition that identifies Silicon Valley’s foremost artists based on their exceptional work quality and dedication to enriching the community. He is also a two time grantee of the illustrious Knight Foundation.
A recipient of the prestigious Staller Scholar and distinguished alumni “40 under 40” awards, Ráyo Furuta holds a Bachelors, Masters and Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Stony Brook University, where he was a direct pupil of both flutist Carol Wincenc and the Emerson String Quartet. He was also heavily influenced by other notable mentors such as Isabelle Chapuis, Jill Felber, harpsichordist Arthur Haas, and violinist Philip Setzer. He is also an alumnus of the Bay Area Multicultural Artist Leadership Institute (MALI).
Ráyo Furuta is a Burkart Artist and exclusively performs on a handmade Lilian Burkart 9k gold flute.
Personal webpage: www.rayofuruta.com