Meet Our Leadership Team
Tomoko Kashiwagi
Artistic Director
Pianist Tomoko Kashiwagi finds immense joy in playing the diverse repertoire she encounters as a performer and as an educator. Kashiwagi completed her Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees and the Performer Diploma in Piano Performance at Indiana University. It did not take long for Kashiwagi to realize the importance of chamber music and ensemble playing as a musician and that she genuinely enjoys interacting with other musicians. Kashiwagi is the first recipient of the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Collaborative Piano from the University of Texas at Austin where she studied with Prof. Anne Epperson.
Equally at ease performing with both instrumentalists and vocalists, her repertoire spans from Baroque to modern, including non-traditional styles and newly commissioned works. She has performed extensively across the United States and internationally in Korea, Taiwan, China, Thailand, Japan, Germany, Belgium, Italy, Panama, and Canada. Prestigious venues such as the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., Suntory Hall in Tokyo, Central Conservatory in Beijing, and Guildhall School in London are just a few of the places that have hosted her performances.
As a staff pianist for six summers at the renowned Meadowmount School of Music, she collaborated with talented string students from around the world. In addition, she spent several summers as a pianist at the Interlochen Intensive Institute for double reed players. Her expertise and artistry have led to frequent invitations to serve as the official pianist for conferences, competitions, and festivals across the United States, including the 2014 Menuhin International Violin Competition and the 2019 International Tuba and Euphonium Conference.
Joining the faculty at the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville in 2012, she currently holds the position of Associate Professor of Piano and Collaborative Piano, along with the Emily J. McAllister Endowed Chair. Her passion for lifelong learning and community engagement drives her commitment to musical excellence. This dedication also inspired the creation of Chamber Music of the Ozarks, an organization dedicated to bringing people together through the transformative power of chamber music.
Brittany Cooper-d’Orsay
Director of operations
With over a decade of experience in non-profit arts administration, Brittany has established herself as an innovative and dynamic leader in the arts community. Her career spans a diverse array of institutions, including roles as Personnel Manager for the Memphis Symphony Orchestra, Musical Arts Coordinator at Rhodes College, Manager of Education Partnerships at The Orpheum Theatre, and Director of Operations for PRIZM Ensemble.
Most recently, Brittany served as Executive Director of the Memphis Youth Symphony Program, where she significantly expanded the program's offerings, including the implementation of a student advisory council, the addition of four large ensembles, and the creation of an annual summer camp. In addition to her transformative work in program development, Brittany successfully more than doubled the organization's operating budget, driving its financial growth and long-term sustainability.
Brittany is a proud co-founder of the Bluff City Wind Symphony, a semi-professional wind ensemble featuring exceptional musicians and educators from across Arkansas, Mississippi, and Tennessee. Beyond her professional work, Brittany serves on the Overton Park Shell's Professional Board and the Memphis Youth Symphony's Advisory Board, where she continues to contribute her expertise to the growth and development of the region's arts scene.
An Arkansas native, Brittany is an accomplished horn teacher and performer, holding a Bachelor's degree in Music and Anthropology from Vanderbilt University, as well as a Master’s degree in Music from the University of Michigan. In addition to serving as the Director of Operations for the Ozark Music Initiative, Brittany is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Horn Performance at the University of Memphis.
Board of Directors
David Childs, Board Chair
Rhonda Causie, Secretary
Adrianne Hall
Beau Reynolds
Virginia Kunzer
Advisory Board
Caroline Kinsey
David Palmer
M. Isaac Ripple
Laura Rosenberg