Naomi Munakata facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Naomi Munakata
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| 宗像 直美 | |
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Naomi Munakata (2011)
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| Born | 31 May 1955 Hiroshima, Japan
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| Died | 26 March 2020 (aged 64) São Paulo, Brazil
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| Kanji | 宗像直美 | ||||||||
| Hiragana | むなかた なおみ | ||||||||
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Naomi Munakata (宗像 直美, Munakata Naomi, 31 May 1955 – 26 March 2020) was a talented conductor and teacher. She was born in Japan but lived most of her life in Brazil. Naomi Munakata was known for leading choirs and teaching music.
She led the choir of the Orquestra Sinfônica do Estado de São Paulo (OSESP) for many years. Later, she became the main conductor of the Coral Paulistano Mário de Andrade. This choir performs at the famous Municipal Theatre in São Paulo. Many people say she helped make choral music in South America stronger and more exciting.
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Early Life and Musical Journey
Naomi Munakata was born in Hiroshima, Japan. When she was just two years old, her family moved to São Paulo, Brazil. Her musical journey started very early.
She began taking piano lessons when she was four. By age seven, she was singing in a choir led by her own father. She also learned to play the violin and the harp.
Education and Training
Naomi Munakata studied music at the Instituto Musical de São Paulo. She finished her studies in composition and conducting in 1978. She learned from many great teachers.
She studied conducting and music with Hans-Joachim Koellreutter. Other important teachers included Eleazar de Carvalho and John Neschling. She even got a special scholarship to study in Sweden with Eric Ericson. Later, the Japanese government gave her a scholarship to study conducting in Tokyo.
A Career in Choral Music
Naomi Munakata was a dedicated teacher and leader. She taught at the Escola Municipal de Música de São Paulo. She also led the Coral Jovem do Estado, which is a youth choir for the state.
She had her own radio show called "Vozes" (Voices) on Rádio Cultura FM in São Paulo. On this show, she shared information about choral music with listeners.
From 1995 to 2013, she was the conductor of OSESP, a very important choir. After that, she became their Honorary Conductor. In 2014, she took on the role of artistic director for the Coral Paulistano Mário de Andrade. This choir performs at the famous Municipal Theatre. She also taught at two colleges, Faculdade Santa Marcelina and Faculdade de Artes Alcântara Machado (FAAM).
Later Years
Naomi Munakata was a respected figure in the music world. Sadly, she became ill during the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil. She was hospitalized on March 16, 2020. She passed away on March 26, 2020, at the age of 64.
Awards and Recognition
Naomi Munakata received an award for being the best choral conductor. This award came from the São Paulo Association of Art Critics. It showed how much her work was valued.
See also
In Spanish: Naomi Munakata para niños
