Hiroko Hiwatashi

Pronouns Used: She/Her/Hers

Hometown: Hong Kong

Principal Instrument: Piano

Majors: Film Scoring and Music Business/Management

Languages Spoken (other than English): Japanese, Cantonese, and Mandarin

Describe your favorite Berklee experience so far.

One of my favorite Berklee experiences is being able to play with other amazing musicians who share the same taste in music. I have always dreamed of playing with an orchestra since I have been playing classical piano music as a soloist for a long time. Being able to take part in the Berklee Motion Picture Orchestra allowed my dream to come true and it felt amazing!

When you think about your favorite class so far, what is one example of why you enjoyed it?

I really enjoyed the film scoring classes because I get to dig into a deeper analysis of film music and learn something new for every single class. I also get to compose my own music for the video clips and being able to hear how different everybody's outcome is is always very inspirational for my next composition.

What is your favorite part about studying and living in Boston? 

Personally, I like the seasonal changes in Boston because it feels like I am constantly in a changing environment, giving me inspiration when it comes to writing my own music. I also love the fact that everything is accessible either by foot or train, allowing me to explore different parts of the city easily whenever I want to.

What is one piece of advice you would give to someone applying to Berklee College of Music or Boston Conservatory at Berklee?

Never forget your potential and just be yourself. Do what your heart tells you to do and don't be afraid of the challenges.

Where is your favorite place on campus?

There are two places that I personally really like. The first one is the 150 lobby because I always get to bump into someone I know and either have a quick chat or have an extensive conversation about music and anything! I do enjoy playing the piano so my second favorite place is probably room A03 and room A05 in 1108 because they have some of the best grand pianos there.

Why did you choose Berklee?

I chose Berklee because of its international community, which made me feel like I belong there. I felt like this multicultural community can allow me to learn so much more about different styles of music from all around the world, helping me develop my own music from a different set of perspectives.

What are your plans for after graduation?

I am planning to go to Los Angeles after graduation to pursue my career in film scoring.

What have you enjoyed most about the live shows you’ve been involved in at Berklee?

Being able to perform with amazing musicians and an audience felt incredible. I was always excited to perform instead of being nervous and it has been a while since I've done that since Covid started.

Where do you hope to perform this coming year?

I hope to perform at one of the caf shows and possibly the BPC!

Your social media channel/web URL?

Instagram: @hiroko.hiwatashi