Asuka Kakitani (she/her) is a Japanese-born composer, conductor, and educator based in Minnesota. Deeply inspired by nature, Kakitani transforms her visions into vivid musical narratives that reflect personal perspectives, rich imagination, and themes including societal and environmental issues. Her work spans jazz large ensembles, orchestras, chamber groups, vocal music, electroacoustic compositions, and film scores.

Her music has been described as “a musical impressionist and supreme colorist” (Hot House Magazine) and “the overflowing world of inspirational melody” (DownBeat Magazine). Kakitani’s compositional voice has garnered numerous awards and grants, including SOLI Chamber Ensemble’s 30x30x30 Project, the Concept Lab at the Chamber Music America Conference, the New Music USA Creator Fund, the Innova Recordings Spring National Call, the Jerome Fund for New Music (now ACF|Create), and multiple grants from the Minnesota State Arts Board. She has also received fellowships from the Eighth Blackbird Creative Lab, the Minnesota Upstream Artist Fellowship, and the McKnight Fellowship.

Her compositions have been performed by esteemed performers and ensembles such as the Thalea String Quartet, Quince Ensemble, Shannon Wettstein, Unheard-of// Ensemble, Zeitgeist New Music Ensemble, and the JazzMN Orchestra, as well as numerous college ensembles across the U.S. and Japan. Her commissioned works have been featured at events including the Boulanger Initiative’s Women Composers Festival, the Bridge Chamber Music Festival, and in recordings such as Grammy-nominated producer Ryan Truesdell’s SYNTHESIS. As a bandleader, Kakitani led the Asuka Kakitani Jazz Orchestra, whose debut album Bloom (2013) was recognized in NPR Music’s Jazz Critics Poll and DownBeat Magazine’s Critics’ Poll for Best Debut Albums. After relocating to Minnesota, she began co-leading the Inatnas Orchestra.