Album Notes

After her debut concert at the Kennedy Center, the Washington Post wrote, “Naoko Takada plays a marimba, moving with speed grace and extraordinary accuracy...” She has toured throughout the U.S.A. playing hundreds of solo marimba recitals including performances at the Carnegie Hall, the Lincoln Center, and the Suntory Hall, the Tokyo Memorial Concert Hall. At age eleven she appeared as guest soloist with the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra and has since soloed with numerous orchestras including the Houston Symphony, China National Symphony Orchestra, Xalapa Symphony in Mexico, Louisiana Philharmonic as well as the Tokyo Chamber Orchestra. In 2004 Takada performed the New York Premiere of Kevin Puts’ marimba concerto with the Orchestra of St. Lukes conducted by Leonard Slatkin in the Lincoln Center. That same year she was invited to perform in the Wall of Gang Camp Gala held by Paul Newman and appeared with Hollywood stars Bruce Willis, Meryl Streep, and Danny Glover.

In 2006, she was awarded the S and R Washington Award, a prize that will be given to artists who contribute to cultural understanding between the U.S. and Japan. Her other awards include First prize of the Young Concert Artists International Audition, the Houston Ima Hogg national young Artist Competiton, the Sorantin Young Artists International Competition, and the Japan International League of Artists Competition.

Along with her solo concerts, she has taught hundreds of master classes throughout the United States at schools such as Indiana University and the Manhattan School of Music. She devotes herself to various educational programs such as the Kennedy Center’s outreach, Midori & Friends, and local residencies throughout the USA. As an instructor she has worked for Ju Percussion International Summer Camp in Taiwan, KOSA international percussion festival, Patagonia International Percussion Festival in Argentina, the Zeltsman International Marimba Festival, and the Yamaha Sounds of Summer program.

In 2006, Ms. Takada's was signed by a major Japanese recoding label Victor Entertainment, Inc. and released her first solo Album, "Marimba Meets the Classics.” CD Baby exclaimed, "Naoko's gift for this instrument comes through in both her exquisite and delicate touch as well as the excitement and she pours into each piece." She has her own signature series of mallets available through Encore Mallets, Inc. Her arrangements and commissioned works are available through Studio 4 Publications as the Naoko Takada series.

More info
www.naokotakada.com
www.myspace.com/naokotakada