Sae Hashimoto (sa-eh ha-shee-moh-toh) is a Japanese-born percussionist whose multifaceted career extends beyond barriers of genre and classification. Her unique approach to performance is cultivated by her intensive classical training and a decade of freelance experience in NYC performing symphonic, baroque, contemporary, and avant-garde music.
Hashimoto moved to New York City in 2012 to attend The Juilliard School, where she studied with Daniel Druckman and Markus Rhoten of the New York Philharmonic. Since graduating with her master’s degree, she has been an active freelancer in the orchestral scene, frequently guest-performing with the New York Philharmonic and the New York City Ballet. She currently serves as the principal timpanist of the New Jersey-based orchestra Symphony in C. Hashimoto also performs as a baroque timpanist, collaborating with groups such as Clarion, TENET Vocal Artists, Juilliard 415, Yale Schola Cantorum, and the Theatre of Early Music.
In 2021, Hashimoto joined Yarn/Wire, the NYC-based piano/percussion quartet that promotes the creation of new and experimental music through live performances, collaborations, and educational activities. Entering its 16th season, the quartet has premiered over 100 works for piano and percussion and continues to expand and challenge the repertoire. She also performs frequently with other leading contemporary ensembles, including the Talea Ensemble, Wet Ink Large Ensemble, and the National Sawdust Ensemble. As a leading interpreter of John Zorn’s music for the vibraphone, Hashimoto has premiered over a dozen works by Zorn since 2016 at venues in the U.S. and abroad, collaborating with artists such as the JACK Quartet, Tyshawn Sorey, Ches Smith, Laurie Anderson, and Jorge Roeder. Her performances of Zorn's music are recorded on two albums on the Tzadik label.
Hashimoto's latest project featuring original music is Archipelago X, an improv-based trio consisting of Brian Marsella on keyboards and 2022 MacArthur Fellow Ikue Mori on electronics. Formed in 2020 out of the unique challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic, their self-titled debut album was released in May 2021 on the Tzadik label.
From 2018 to 2020 Hashimoto served as the percussion fellow for Ensemble Connect, a program based at Carnegie Hall that combines musical excellence with education, advocacy, and entrepreneurship.
