About

Tomoko Omura is an innovative jazz violinist, composer, and educator whose violin work embodies the authentic spirit and language of jazz. Born and raised in Japan, Tomoko began playing violin at age four, building a strong classical foundation. Her passion for jazz developed during her university years, where she became a self-taught jazz violinist, drawing inspiration from recordings, live performances, and her own exploration of the genre.

A graduate of the prestigious Berklee College of Music, Omura seamlessly bridges traditional jazz structures with bold harmonic explorations and intricate rhythms. Her compositions reflect a blend of Eastern and Western influences, drawing on her Japanese heritage and her experiences in the New York jazz scene, where she is now based.

Her Roots project began with the album Roots (2014), a profound exploration blending modern jazz with Japanese cultural essence. This served as the foundation for the Branches series—Branches Vol. 1 (2020) and Branches Vol. 2 (2021)—continuing her exploration of merging Japanese culture with contemporary jazz. The Branches series has received widespread acclaim, with Vol. 2 named one of the best jazz albums of 2021 by Bandcamp. These albums showcase her sophisticated fusion of jazz improvisation, traditional melodies, and modern rhythms, with violin work praised for its lyricism and emotional depth.

In recognition of her exceptional talent, Omura was named the #1 Rising Star Violinist in the 2021 DownBeat Magazine Critics' Poll. The New York Times has described her as "a leader with a fine future," and she has been featured in Strings magazine, WBGO's The Pulse, United, and GRAMMY.com.

Throughout her career, Tomoko has collaborated with acclaimed musicians including vocalist Aubrey Johnson, Fabian Almazan, Camila Meza, Linda Oh, and Paquito D'Rivera. She was formerly a member of the Guy Mendilow Ensemble and Celtic group RUNA.

As an educator, Tomoko leads the STRiNGS ensemble at Jazz House KiDS, teaching jazz improvisation to young string players and composing arrangements for the ensemble, nurturing the next generation of jazz musicians.

Whether performing, composing, or teaching, Tomoko Omura continues to redefine the role of violin in jazz, establishing herself as a distinctive voice in the genre's evolution.