Born in Tokyo, Akemi Naito began studying piano at the age of five and composition at the age of fourteen. In 1978, she received B.A. in Music Composition from the University Division at the Toho Gakuen School of Music and graduate degree from the same university in 1980, and was a member of the school’s faculty from 1980 until 1991. She was awarded the Takei Prize in 1982 and a finalist of the Music Today Composition Award in 1982 and 1988. Following her earlier activity as a composer in Tokyo, she received a grant from the Asian Cultural Council, that enabled her to come to New York City in 1991. She has since established herself as a New York-based composer.
Ms. Naito’s works have been featured in music festivals around the world such as The Village Trip Festival in New York City, The Patagonia International Percussion Festival, The Fifth Ryogoku Art Festival in Tokyo, A Contemporary Visual Art and Music Festival in Florence, The Second Aoyama Jikken Kobo (Experimetal Workshop) at the Tessenkai Noh Theater in Tokyo, Clásicos en Verano in Madrid, Fribourg International Festival of Sacred Music, Music Festival Valendas in Switzerland, Mersin International Music Festival in Turkey, International Bayan Festival in Moscow, International Congress of Percussion in Poland, a number of times at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC), Gaudeamus Music Festival, Melbourne Festival, Musica Scienza Roma, Ultima Oslo Contemporary Music Festival, Japan Society Spring Festival, Music from Japan Festival, Foro Internacional de Musica Nueva in Mexico and Music Today International Festival in Tokyo. Her Marimba piece, Memory of the Woods, which was written for William Moersch in 2000 has received numerous performances both in the U.S. and internationally.
Naito is a recipient of awards and grants from organizations including Composer Assistance Program of the American Music Center, Aaron Copland Fund for Music for Recording for her CD album in conjunction with Cygnus Ensemble, the Bellagio residency from the Rockefeller Foundation, Chamber Music America, the New York Foundation for the Arts, ASCAP Standard Award, Meet the Composer Fund, the first Aaron Copland Award from the Copland House residence, and resident fellowships from Yaddo, MacDowell Colony and Millay Colony for the Arts.
Her recent work, Emily Brontë – Through Life and Death, A Chainless Soul, which is a poetic mono-opera based on selected poems by Emily Brontë was premiered at the Tenri Gallery of Tenri Cultural Institute in New York City in January 2018. The production achieved critical acclaim as “A Fitting Celebration of Bronte’s Genius” and it was described “a wonderful example of the beauty that can be found when words mingle with music, each giving the other new life and meaning” by Opera Wire.
Naito participated as an artistic director for the 5th Ryogoku Art Festival in the summer 2019 in Tokyo with programming Japanese premiere of Emily Brontë mono-opera as well as works by American composers. Mercure des Arts acclaimed the selection of the works and performances for the program of American composers.
Her CD album, Within My Soul was released by Ravello Records in 2019, Mindscape was released by Bridge Records in 2006 and Strings & Time was released by CRI in 1997. In addition, her compositions can be heard on EMI, ALM, URTEXT, New Focus Recordings and Camerata Tokyo. Her recent work, composed for the acclaimed male vocal quartet, New York Polyphony, is included on their new album, “Sky of My Heart”, released June 13th, 2025 on BIS.
Her works have been published by HoneyRock, AUGEMUS and SONIC ARTS.
Short Bio (193 words):
Born in Tokyo, Akemi Naito graduated from the University Division at the Toho Gakuen School of Music in Music Composition and moved to the US in 1991 when she received a grant from the Asian Cultural Council. She resides in New York City. Naito is a recipient of awards and grants from organization including the 1stAaron Copland Award, Bellagio residency from the Rockefeller Foundation, Chamber Music America in conjunction with Cygnus Ensemble, New York Foundation for the Arts and resident fellowships from Yaddo, MacDowell Colony and Millay Colony for the Arts. Her works have been performed at the festivals in Patagonia, Italy, Switzerland, Turkey, Russia, Poland, the Netherlands, Australia, Norway, US, Japan among others. Her CD album Within My Soul was released by Ravello Records in 2019, Mindscape by Bridge Records in 2006 and Strings & Time by CRI in 1997. In addition, her compositions can be heard on EMI, ALM, URTEXT, New Focus Recordings and Camerata Tokyo. Her recent work, composed for acclaimed male vocal quartet, New York Polyphony, is included on their new album, “Sky of My Heart”, released June 13th, 2025 on BIS. Her works have been published by HoneyRock, AUGEMUS and SONIC ARTS.