Melody of Japan Singers

About the Melody of Japan Singers

Melody of Japan Singers is the first Japanese choir in Ottawa, founded by Noriko Hashimoto in 2012. In its annual concerts and community appearances, the group features an eclectic mix of Japanese music, including choral works, folk traditions, J-pop hits, and celebrated soundtracks from anime and Ghibli films. Melody performed as a guest at Anime Ottawa last year and is excited to return to the stage there this April. For Ghibli Symphony: Part II, the members are grateful to perform with the OPO, and thrilled to present the beloved music of Studio Ghibli .

Noriko Hashimoto, Soprano

Originally from Hyogo, Japan, she earned her bachelor’s degree from the Osaka College of Music before obtaining a master’s degree in Voice from the Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music. After moving to Canada in 2006, she launched her music career. Highlights include solo performances with choirs in Vienna and Prague in 2021, solo recitals in Ottawa in 2024 and 2025, and the premiere of 'Echoes: Vibrations from Japan to Canada' at the Ottawa Dance Direct in 2024 as a performer and a vocal composer. Noriko is the chorus master and conductor of Melody of Japan Singers, an ensemble she founded in 2012.