Composer & Pianist

A young man with glasses and dark hair looks at the camera while sitting behind an open grand piano with the lid raised, in a room with a window covered by horizontal blinds.


Mason Kaneto Ishida is a composer and pianist from Northern Virginia and a graduate of the New England Conservatory of Music, where he studied composition with John Mallia. With over twenty years of piano study and concert experience, Mason has performed as a pianist, played cello in high school orchestra, and sang in choir during his first two years at NEC. He studied piano performance and composition at Carnegie Mellon University’s pre-college program and attended the New York Summer Music Festival for three summers.
His music spans chamber ensembles, orchestra, and solo instruments, drawing inspiration from Beethoven, Scriabin, Bartók, and Shostakovich alongside the creative energy of Nirvana and Radiohead. His works have been performed by fellow musicians at NEC’s Tuesday Night New Music concerts, including performances in the historic Jordan Hall.
In 2025, Mason premiered An Exaggeration for Chamber Orchestra at Weill Recital Hall, Carnegie Hall. On April 28, 2026, his piano work Dance of Frustration will be performed by pianist Joanna Chow at the Sound Espressivo Laureate Gala, also at Weill Recital Hall. His compositions have received recognition from several international competitions.
Mason is available for commissions, future performances, and scoring for video games and indie films. He is also eager to begin teaching piano, bringing the same sensitivity, technical rigor, and passion for expressive detail that shape his own work.
His approach balances tradition with exploration — music shaped by emotion, craft, and curiosity.

AWARDS & RECOGNITION:
World’s Best Musicians Competition — Outstanding Laureate and 1st Prize, Composition (March 2026)
An Exaggeration for Symphony Orchestra
Classical Stars International Music Competition — (March 2026)
Gold Prize in Composition
Gold Prize in Own Composition
Gold Prize in 20th and 21st Century Music
Special Award — Artist of the Season 2026
An Exaggeration for Symphony Orchestra; Suite
Mozart International Music Competition — Gold in Composition (March 2026)
Suite for Symphony Orchestra; String Quartet No. 2
Global Young Musicians Competition, Gdańsk, Poland — Gold Award (March 2026)
An Exaggeration for Symphony Orchestra
Fenix International Music Competition, Gdańsk, Poland — Platinum Award, Composer Category (February 2026)
String Quartet No. 2