Naomi was born in Belleville and raised in Prince Edward County within a family of musicians. After first being introduced to the violin by her father, Naomi began formally studying violin at the age of five with Queen’s University strings instructor Gisèle Dalbec-Szczesniak. Soon after, Naomi also began studying voice under Juilliard alumna Phyllis Antognini at the age of eight.
As a violinist, Naomi joined the professional musicians’ union at the age of 16, when she became a section violinist with the Kingston Symphony Association. She has since performed with various groups across Canada in many of our nation’s finest venues, including Toronto’s Koerner Hall, Ottawa’s National Arts Centre, Winnipeg’s Centennial Concert Hall, Calgary’s Jack Singer Concert Hall, Edmonton’s Windspear Centre and Vancouver’s Chan Centre.
As a vocalist, Naomi has performed in musical theatre productions throughout her life, from chorus roles in most of the Gilbert and Sullivan library to lead roles in Into the Woods (The Witch), Oliver! (Oliver) and Little Shop of Horrors (Audrey). She has studied vocal techniques with Irene Fehr and choral conducting with Patricia Abbott. Naomi became the founding director of Music at Port Milford’s Choral Day Camp program in 2016. She sings lead vocals with the Brighton All Star Show Band.
Naomi’s formal training has included five seasons at Music at Port Milford’s summer chamber music academy (2005-2009), a season with the National Youth Orchestra of Canada (2013), a Bachelor of Music, majoring in violin (McGill University, 2016), a Bachelor of Education, specializing in music (McGill University, 2016), Orff Level 1 Certification (University of Manitoba, 2017), a Post-Baccalaureate Diploma in Education (University of Winnipeg, 2022), in addition to countless pedagogical workshops and performance masterclasses.
Naomi continues to perform regularly, while also holding teaching certifications in three provinces. She finds great joy in teaching music, both through private lessons and in public school classrooms. In 2018, Naomi was awarded the Builder’s Award for New Teachers by the Canadian Music Educators’ Association. With her school performance groups, Naomi has been a national finalist for the CBC Music Class Challenge five times. As a private instructor, Naomi is experienced in preparing students for practical and theory examinations through the Royal Conservatory of Music. She has also studied the Suzuki method, the Kodaly approach, the Orff approach, and Creative Ability Development, which allows her to bring a flexible, student-centred model to her teaching.
NAOMI GARRETT 