Friday, November 6, 2026 at 1:30pm FREE

WOWNY is a New York-based piano and vocal duo formed by pianist Naomi Onda and vocalist Yoshiko “yoppi”.

With a voice so expressive that even its breath becomes music, and a pianist who sees colors in sound, WOWNY creates music that gently evokes the warm emotions we all carry deep inside.

In 2024, they released their debut single “Hanabira Namida” — a heartfelt ballad that captures the beauty and sorrow of fleeting love.

The duo continues to perform concerts globally, with their latest releases in May 2026.

 Now available on Apple Music, Spotify, YouTube Music, Amazon Music, AWA, Line Music, iTunes, and other platforms.

Yoshiko “Yoppi” Watanabe, is a vocalist based in New York, born in Kagoshima. She spent her childhood in Osaka, Chiba, and Tokyo. Influenced by her music-loving parents, she started playing the piano at the age of 3, and during her school years, she dedicated herself to the brass band club, playing the saxophone and trumpet. While in university, she joined a jazz study group, which led to her sudden discovery as a jazz vocalist at a live jazz club in Tokyo. She began her career as a singer in 2000. She was captivated by the depth, melancholy, and joy of improvisation in jazz lyrics and pursued scat and expressive vocal techniques, freely combining sounds. Her heartfelt and emotional singing voice is known for its ability to reach and touch people's hearts.

Her debut album, The Love Song, released in 2019, explored various themes of love. In 2023, she released her second album, Bubbles, which delves deeper into emotions. She continues to perform energetically around the world.

Naomi Onda is a concert pianist whose exceptional musical journey began at an early age. She entered the special music theory program at Osaka College of Music in the first grade of elementary school, mastering the entire curriculum within just four years. During high school, she joined the advanced ear training program at Miyagi Gakuin University in Sendai, where she received intensive training. Naomi went on to continue her studies at Osaka University of Arts, earning her master’s degree in music. She received the Sakai Newcomer Award and, while living in Japan, gave numerous performances as part of a piano duo. In 2004, Naomi moved to the United States. Showcasing her unique gift for improvisation, she expanded her repertoire to include jazz, pop, and classical music, and worked as a professional accompanist for Broadway casting auditions in New York City. She has performed in prestigious venues such as Lincoln Center  and DiMenna Center for Classical Music in  New York City. Her notable concerts include a solo performance of Rhapsody in Blue by George Gershwin (2016), a piano and violin duo concert An Evening of Francis Poulenc (2018), and a chamber ensemble performance of Stravinsky’s L’Histoire du soldat (2019). In recent years, Naomi has focused primarily on improvisational performance. In 2025, she gave a highly acclaimed concert at the Royal Kensington Central Library in London, captivating the audience with her original style, including works such as the London Bridge Variations.

Her original album From Manhattan is also available nationwide and on major streaming services. Naomi has been active as an accompanist for the National Competition, Connecticut schools, and Dance Adventure. She previously taught at Riverside School of Music, and now runs her own private studio, where her specialized teaching program has attracted significant attention and a dedicated following in Connecticut. In 2023, she received international recognition for her teaching, when her student Shuya van Dooijeweert won first prize at the IPPA Conero International Piano Festival & Competition, earning the opportunity to perform in Italy. Naomi traveled with her student to present him in the final round. Since 2025, Naomi has been assistant artistic director of Concert & Cake, and performing in London, Tokyo, New York City and Greenwich.