Naomi Shirai
Naomi Shirai graduated from the saxophone class at the Conservatoire de Paris with top class honors, and on her graduation was awarded the Meyer Prize.
She has given concerts in France, Germany, the Netherlands, Slovenia, China, Thailand et al, and was awarded a Yonden Cultural Promotion Foundation scholarship. She reached the semi-final of the 4th Adolphe Sax International competition.
Naomi returned to Japan in 2008 after having served as saxophone soloist with the Orchestra National des Pays de la Loire. She participated in the Karlheinz-Stockhausen-Konzert (Germany) in 2008, 2009, 2010,2013 and 2025, winning the Performer Prize each time, and received the Kagawa Culture and Art New Artist Award in 2010.
In 2013, 2024 she became the first saxophonist to be chosen for the 10th and 16th ISCM/Asahi Shimbun contemporary music competition 'Kyogaku'. She is a member of the Japan Saxophonist Association.
