Kaori Tanioka was born in Kobe, Japan. Kaori started taking music lessons in an early age and started composing at age of 10. In 1997, Kaori was selected as a pianist for the Opus Piano Concerto and performed with the Kyoto Chamber Orchestra. In 1998, Kaori received a scholarship to attend Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA, where she studied Jazz. Kaori holds a Bachelor’s degree in both Jazz Performance and Jazz Composition.

In 2003, her big-band piece called “Marglit” has won the first prize in IAJE’s College Jazz Composition Competition. It was also performed a number of times by the Greg Hopkins Jazz Orchestra at Ryles Jazz Club, as well as other venues in the New England area. Between 2004 and 2007, she attended the BMI Jazz Composer’s Workshop in New York. Since 2008, Kaori has been focusing on classical composition and her works include several string quartets, solo marimba, orchestra, and woodwind quintets. In 2010, Kaori completed her Master’s degree for classical composition. Her organ piece “WA” was premiered playing by J.P. Knijff (Grand Prix Bach de Lausanne in 1997), same as her Harpsichord concerto. Kaori is certified as an educator at YAMAHA Music Education USA.