yoshi ishikawa with bassoon
Professor of Bassoon
Woodwinds

Yoshiyuki (Yoshi) Ishikawa is a professor of bassoon at the University of Colorado Boulder College of Music. He has performed and presented solo recitals, master classes and workshops at prestigious conservatories, schools of music and festivals across North America, Asia, Europe and Oceania. His recent guest performances include concertos, chamber music recitals and master classes in the United States, Australia, Thailand and China.

Ishikawa is founder and president of the Asian Double Reed Association, which has memberships in China, Hong Kong, Japan, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan and Thailand. He also chairs the International Bassoon Meetup Competition. Founded in 2019, the organization aims to create opportunities for advanced bassoonists worldwide to compete in realistic orchestral auditions and showcase artistic expression. The competition is supported by leading bassoonists from the United States, Europe, Asia and South America and represents 13 countries, 20 orchestras and 23 schools of music; and is sponsored by 51 instrument makers and double reed specialty businesses.

In July 2022, Ishikawa organized and hosted the 51st Annual International Double Reed Society (IDRS) conference at the University of Colorado Boulder. In 2015, he co-sponsored the first Asian IDRS conference in Tokyo under the auspices of the third Asian Double Reed Association conference. From 1990 to 2020, he served on the IDRS Executive Board holding positions as president, secretary and editor of IDRS online publications.

Ishikawa has served as a judge for numerous international competitions including the IDRS Gillet and Young Artists Competition; Tokyo Wind and Brass Competition; Rimsky-Korsakov Competition; Moscow Conservatory Wind and Percussion Competition; Asian Double Reed Association International Competitions; and Australasian Double Reed Society Competitions. He frequently performs with his pianist wife, Brenda Ishikawa, and his violinist daughter, Marisa Ishikawa, a member of the award-winning Carpe Diem String Quartet.