Tomoko Omura

Violinist Tomoko Omura is widely recognized as a versatile violinist and a strong improviser in the Jazz and World Music styles. She has performed musicians such as Joe Lovano, Gloria Estefan, Israel “Cachao” Lopez, Steve Gadd, Jamey Haddad, Abraham Laboriel, George Garzone, Greg Hopkins, David Fiuczyinski, Oscar Feldman, Jim Snidero, Matt Glaser, Rob Thomas, Eugene Friesen, Mimi Rabson, Esperanza Spalding, John McCutcheon, Natalia Zukerman, David-Jacobs Strain, Women in Docs, Greg Anderson & Sara Milonovich, Benoit Bourque, to name a few.

Tomoko Omura performs extensively in the U.S. and Japan, at venues including The Wang Theatre (Boston), the Agganis Arena (Boston University) the Matthews Arena (Northeastern University), WFMT (98.7FM, Chicago), WNUR (89.3FM, Evanston), the Northeast Regional Folk Alliance Conference, the Association of Performing Arts Presenters, Cornell University, the Chicago Cultural Center, New Bedford Summerfest, the Paradise Lounge, Lily Pad, and the Cambridge River Festival in Cambridge, OriginalSessions Art House, First Night Binghamton (NY), the JP Unplugged acoustic music series, the Amazing Things Art Center (Framingham), Oswego Music Hall (NY), the Berklee Performance Center and the David Friends Recital Hall in Boston, Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts, and the Old South Church (Boston).

Tomoko has recorded with artists including Japanese pop star, Mai Kuraki (“One Life”) and Lisa Yamaguchi (“Platinum Blesslet”), the Berklee Darfur Project “We Are All Connected” (the song “Why” by Magda Giannikou), world music band Tantanakuy and jazz/world music band The Banda Eclectics.

Born in Shizuoka, Japan, Tomoko Omura started playing violin at the age of 4. She began playing percussion and the baroque recorder at the age of 10, and won Shizuoka’s virtuoso contest for recorder performance in 1996. She fell in love with jazz and rock at the age of 15. After entering Yokohama National University, she started playing jazz violin and performed in bars and other venues in Tokyo and Yokohama, Japan. After graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education, her passion for jazz brought her to the U.S. to study at the Berklee College of Music in 2004.

At Berklee, Tomoko Omura studied with famous musicians such as Ed Tomassi, Hal Crook, Greg Hopkins, George Gazone, David Fiuczyinski, Rob Thomas, Matt Glaser, Eugene Friesen, Sandy Kott, and Mimi Rabson. In 2005, Tomoko Omura became the first violinist to receive Berklee’s prestigious “Roy Haynes” award. Tomoko Omura has played at many concerts at Berklee, including the Great American Songbook series, Berklee’s 60th Anniversary concert, Berklee’s Singer’s Showcase, as well as Convocation and Commencement concerts. At The Great American Songbook: The Music of Cole Porter in 2005, she performed as concertmistress of 44-piece orchestra including faculties and students. At Berklee’s Commencement concert in 2007, she was a featured soloist of Andrew Hill tribute “Passing Ship” arranged by Richard Evans. Tomoko Omura graduated summa cum laude from Berklee in May, 2007.

Tomoko is currently a member of The Guy Mendilow Band and Underground Jazz String Quartet.

In May 2008 Ms. Omura produced and recorded her first album, which contains seven original jazz compositions.