Saori Kataoka

Saori Kataoka joined Illinois Global Institute as an Office Support Specialist for CGS and Center for East Asian and Pacific Studies in January 2023. She assists the center with office and business operations. 

She is a recent graduate of UIUC, holding two Master of Music degrees in Trumpet Performance and Literature (2019) and Jazz Performance (2022), and two Graduate Minors in Global Studies and Dance. She earned Bachelor of Arts degree (2016) from Campbellsville University, KY. Previously she has served as an Instructional Assistant Professor of Trumpet at Illinois State University, and currently performs regularly with Terre Haute Symphony, Danville Symphony, and Heartland Festival Orchestras. As a trumpet player, she has performed at iconic venues in Poland, Ukraine, Germany, Scotland, and the United States.

Born in Tokushima, Japan, she grew up with the dance and music of Awa Odori. Her research interest includes globalization of music, dance, cultural heritage, and language.