Naoshi Chiba

He was born in Tokyo in 1947. From the age of 10, he was taught by his father, Kunio Chiba. While attending the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music, he was selected for the 37th Mainichi Competition. He performed at the NHK Newcomer Concert. Upon graduating in 1970, Chiba joined the Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra. In 1971, he enrolled into the the University of Music and Performing Arts, Vienna as a scholarship student of the Government of Austria, studying clarinet with R. Jettel and A. Prinz, and chamber music with K. Ehrberger. Chiba graduated from the Vienna National Academy with top honors In 1974. After returning to Japan, he joined the NHK Symphony Orchestra. In 1984, he joined the Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra as principal clarinetist. He was active in chamber and solo performances until his retirement from the orchestra in 1998, but continued to serve as the principal guest clarinetist until 2002. Professor Emeritus of the Graduate School of Senzoku Gakuen School of Music.