Nozomi Omote is a distinguished percussionist with over 30 years of experience performing across Australia, Japan, and New Zealand. Her career spans orchestral, chamber, and experimental music, driven by a deep commitment to artistic exploration and collaboration.
She holds a Master of Music Studies in Percussion Performance from the Queensland Conservatorium, Griffith University—where she was recognised for Academic Excellence—and a Bachelor of Education from Kanazawa University in Japan. Her artistic approach was shaped under the mentorship of renowned percussionists Prof. Vanessa Tomlinson and Tom O’Kelly, whose guidance helped cultivate her bold and expressive style.
Nozomi has performed with leading ensembles including Camerata – Queensland’s Chamber Orchestra, the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra Ensemble Kanazawa, the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra, and the Sophie Min Orchestra, a contemporary jazz ensemble known for its adventurous compositions and rich improvisational language. Her collaborative projects include work with Clocked Out and Trichotomy, and she is the co-founder of Shugorei, a new music collective with Dr. Thomas Green that blends percussion, electronics, and improvisation into immersive sonic experiences. She has also appeared with Ensemble Sooon, contributing to performances of Martin Kay’s compositions that explore the intersection of acoustic and electronic sound worlds.
As an educator, Nozomi is passionate about helping students develop their skills and reach their musical goals. She has been a sessional staff member at the Queensland Conservatorium since 2012, offering percussion instruction to university students. She also serves as Percussion Coordinator at St Peters Lutheran College, where she leads the percussion program and supports students in their musical development. Additionally, she provides sectional tutoring for the Queensland Youth Orchestra, helping young percussionists refine their technique and musicality.
Her achievements have earned her numerous awards, including First Prize in Open Duets and Trios and Third Prize in Solo Marimba at the 6th Australian Percussion Eisteddfod in Sydney. She is also a recipient of the Ishikawa Artist Development Grant and the Young Performer Prize at the 3rd New Artist Competition in Japan.
Whether on stage or in collaboration, Nozomi brings a bold, thoughtful presence to every performance—continually inspiring and enriching the musical community.
Reviews
A special mention to percussionist Nozomi Omote, who seamlessly handled an incredible amount of instruments and percussion mallets throughout Ngapa William Cooper, including less conventional instruments such as eucalyptus branches. – Backstreet Brisbane
Percussionist Nozomi Omote’s role is a feat of staggering difficulty. Westlake has crammed four percussion parts into one. Charmingly, the rustle of eucalyptus leaves into a mic conjures the Aussie bush. – Gillian Wills
There was plenty of flash to the orchestration, too, with virtuoso solo contributions from many section leaders, especially percussionist Nozomi Omote. Omote always seemed to be moving to some contrasting instrument and sometimes played two at once. – Tim Passmore
Nozomi Omote 