It is one thing to master one instrument but to master two and play both at the same time is another thing. Nonoka Nagao has managed to accomplish this difficult task and with much success. In her teens she felt a connection to the Hammond organ especially after seeing her soon to be favorite musician, Joey DeFrancesco at the Blue Note in Manhattan, which in turn motivated her to move to New York in 2020. Her parents are avid music fans and were a major influence on her growing up.

Most people are not familiar with the Hammon organ which was discontinued in 1970. While she was in school, she joined the brass band and took up the trumpet. She was a big fan of trumpeter Lee Morgan. During this time that she was learning the trumpet she became interested in jazz music. Nonoka visited the club "Zatto Four" and performed on Hammon organ and her life took on another turn. There is where she met the CEO of YS Corporation, Osamu Yamamoto. Since then, Osamu has been a supportive hand for Nonoka with gigs and sound advice.



From this point she moved to New York where she earned a scholarship to the New School and did a mentorship with jazz legends Dr. Lonnie Smith and Tony Monaco. Her knack for mastering both the trumpet and the organ has opened doors for her. She learned much from watching her favorite organist, Joey DeFrancesco who also plays both instruments. Outside of studying music she also took courses in film scoring and orchestration. Nonoka also collaborated with classical music students that broadened her musical canvas.

"The trumpet and organ are totally different instruments, and it's hard to play different instruments at the same time. The keys and range of each instrument are different, too. So, in my head, I imagine two people doing their own thing. If I think of it as 'I am playing two instruments,' I sometimes get confused. So, I have my own band in my head."

Nonoka has performed from Los Angeles to Japan. Some notable venues have been Grand Performance California Plaza, Reggae on The Mountain Music Festival, Broadway night LA place Theatre and many more. One of her more memorable performances was when she collaborated with Robert Vargas, the artist who painted the Shohei Ohtani mural in Little Tokyo. In addition, she performed with her favorite rapper Murs. Her talent was so appreciated that she was asked to join the Neighborhood Orchestra, by the leader Memo. At the Neighborhood Orchestra she also teaches composition, trumpet, and piano both in person (at the school) and online.

"My long-term goal as a musician is to become a versatile, multi-genre artist, and for audiences to immediately recognize my sound as Nonoka's. Growing up, I only listened to jazz music, but recently, I've had the incredible opportunity to play and explore a wide variety of genres. This has opened my eyes to the endless possibilities in music, and I'm eager to continue experimenting and expanding my musical horizons. Since moving to LA, I've started connecting more deeply with hip-hop. It's been an exciting journey of discovery, and I hope to collaborate with some of my favorite rappers one day, blending my influences with theirs to create something truly original. Ultimately, I want my music to transcend genres and speak to people on a global level."

.