“Naoko Tsujita is one of those rare breeds in the artistry of marimba playing who has maintained her own sense of style and musicality…without any excessive histrionics! It is hard not to pay attention to this artist in performance…engaging and thought provoking every time!” - Beverley Johnston

 

"One of the best marimba players in Canada,"  - Mark Adam

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Naoko Tsujita is a performer-composer whose diverse career has led her to give performances in cities in Canada, the US, Europe, and Japan. As a marimba soloist, she has won top prizes in several competitions, including the University of Toronto Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition and the South Japan Music Competition. Her 'Rosewood Duo' (marimba and guitar) made their debut in Vienna, Austria in 2018 at the contemporary music venue called Alte Schmiede Kunstverein for premiering six works by emerging composers in Vienna. As a percussionist, she has worked with a variety of musicians in many styles and played in the albums for JUNO awarded artists including Derek Chark and Donné Roberts.

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Recently, her arrangement "Itsuki Lullaby" for Carillon won the first place at the 2020 Sally Slade Warner Arrangements & Transcriptions Competition. Moreover, her composition "Nocturne Dance" for Carillon received a Special Jury Mention at the Perpignan Carillon Composition Competition in 2019 which was published by the American Carillon Music Editions in May, 2019. In addition, another composition "Bell Chant" also received Honorable Mention at the Iowa State Carillon Composition Competition 2019.

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She completed a Master's Degree in Music from the University of Toronto, a Bachelor's Degree in Music in Percussion Performance from Acadia University, and a diploma in music at the Oita Prefectural College of Arts and Culture in Japan.