Ryoko Naef-Yoshida

Born in Tokyo, Ryoko Naef-Yoshida began her first piano lessons at the age of three and a half. She studied with Kasuko Yasukawa and Yuko Yamaoka (both Knights of the Legion of Honor) and also received guidance from Vlado Perlemuter and Maria Curcio. She continued her studies at the prestigious Toho Music Academy in Tokyo, where she also took conducting courses with Maestro Seiji Ozawa. In 1982, she graduated with honors, earning a concert diploma and simultaneously a degree in mathematics.

Ryoko Naef then furthered her studies at the Geneva Conservatory, studying in Harry Datyner’s class, where she won the First Prize in Virtuosity in 1987. She also studied chamber music for two years with Árpád Gerész and took organ lessons with Lionel Rogg at the Conservatory of Geneva.

In 1991, Ryoko Naef-Yoshida was a finalist at the Geza Anda International Competition in Zurich. She has given numerous concerts in Japan and participated in radio broadcasts (Radio Suisse Romande – Espace 2 and NHK – Japan). She also regularly performs in Switzerland.

Ryoko Naef-Yoshida teaches piano at the Conservatory of Fribourg and at the Haute École Pédagogique of Fribourg. She has also been the titular organist of the St-Maurice Church in Fribourg since 1991.