Remembering Gail Niwa

February 15, 2021 Frank Villella ‹ 5 min read

Gail Niwa makes her subscription concert debut with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in Schumann’s Piano Concerto on February 9, 1995

Jim Steere

The Chicago Symphony Orchestra family mourns the loss of pianist Gail Niwa, who passed away on February 9, 2021, following a long illness. She was sixty-one.

Born in Chicago, Gail was the daughter of Eloise, an accomplished pianist and pedagogue, and Raymond, a member of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s violin section from 1951 until 1997.

Gail Niwa’s career spanned making her debut with the CSO at the age of eight, presenting a recital on the Allied Arts series, performing on subscription concerts under the baton of Sir Georg Solti, and appearing as soloist with the Orchestra on the soundtrack to Disney’s Fantasia 2000.