“Beauty is a dynamic event that occurs between you and something else. Beauty is something that can spontaneously occur at any given moment, given the proper circumstances, context, or point of view. Beauty is thus an altered state of consciousness, an extraordinary moment of poetry and grace.” -Leonard Koren, Wabi Sabi
Extended Biography
Early Life & Education
Momo spent most of her childhood roaming her parents’ Tokyo music shop, where she was surrounded by every genre, from classical to rock and roll. By the age of nine, she joined the school band and started playing the flute and the piano. In 1992, Momo completed her Bachelor’s degree in flute performance from the Tokyo College of Music and gave her first solo recital in Perth that same year.
Chasing the Good Times Down Under
After visiting Australia for the first time in 1991 to participate in the National Flute Convention, Momo fell in love. For the first time, she felt the freedom to have fun with music instead of taking it so seriously all the time. Following her graduation, she decided to move to Australia and become a full-time student studying English at Edith Cowen University in Perth. She officially emigrated in 1995 as a permanent resident.
As Momo became more attuned to the power of music as a connector, she started holding concerts in Perth to perform with local musicians. She also performed at local high schools, including St. Hilda’s School for girls, where she eventually started giving flute lessons. Her passion for teaching really took off, and she went on to teach at John Septimus Row Anglican School and Prediville Catholic College in Perth.
First Compositions & Artistic Debut
In September 2000, to her surprise, Momo started writing her own music. During this period, she felt fully connected to her craft, and her deep love for music flowed through her, resulting in the beginnings of her oeuvre. Momo partnered with the talented guitarist Simon Rovis-Hermann to record their first album, “Awakening”, in 2001. The duo successfully toured 12 cities in Australia and Japan.