Naomi Barron, Cello

Currently based in Toronto, Naomi enjoys a multifaceted career as a soloist, chamber musician, orchestral player, recording artist and educator. She performs regularly with distinguished groups such as the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Canadian Opera Company, National Ballet as well as innovative ensembles like Group of Seven and Against the Grain. As well, Naomi is proud to be a core member of the renowned Ensemble Vivant who, in addition to their concerts and recordings, is the flagship performance group for Euterpe: Music Is The Key (musicisthekey.org), an organization that provides free life-enhancing musical opportunities for children and seniors in underserved communities.

Born into a musical family in London, Ontario, Naomi began her musical journey on the violin only to realize, by her eighth birthday, that the cello was her true love. By age sixteen, Naomi had made her solo debut, performing Dvořák’s Cello Concerto at Centre in the Square, launching a career that has spanned the globe.

In 2006, Naomi was invited by the legendary Maestro Lorin Maazel to join the internationally acclaimed Orquesta Palau de Les Arts Reina Sofia in Valencia, Spain. She has also performed under the batons of other celebrated conductors including Zubin Mehta, Seiji Ozawa, Sir Simon Rattle, Daniel Barenboim, Riccardo Chailly, Valery Gergiev, and Plácido Domingo, recording Wagner’s Ring Cycle for Naxos under the direction of Zubin Mehta. Before her time in Valencia, Naomi served for over a decade as Co-Principal Cellist of the Orquesta Sinfónica de Tenerife.

Recognized for her rich sound and emotional depth, Naomi has performed across North America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia, collaborating and recording with such diverse artists as Pulitzer Prize winning sound artist Ellen Reid (SoundWalk), Spain’s transformative theatrical group La Fura dels Baus, The Eagles, Canadian jazz singer Laila Biali as well as Seth McFarlane in live episodes of Family Guy.

In addition to performing, Naomi is a teacher with The Hammer Band, a program that provides music education to over 1,000 students from underserved communities. As well, Naomi has performed in several high security prisons, deepening her belief in the transformative power of music.

Naomi holds a Bachelor’s degree from Boston University and a Master’s degree from Rice University. She spends her summers in beautiful southern Oregon as principal cellist of the Britt Festival Orchestra.