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Librarian Profile: Nobue Matsuoka

Nobue Matsuoka

Music Librarian Nobue Matsuoka takes her role at American University seriously. A scholar, author, and accomplished percussionist, she has lectured on Japanese culture and performing arts for students in AU’s Department of Performing Arts, as well as performing music on campus and throughout the region and presenting her research at conferences. While Nobue is our resident music expert, she can also be a terrific resource for students interested in studying the language or culture of Japan.

Where can you find her?

Nobue’s office door (Katzen 224) is “always open” when she is not working in the Music Library, located on the first floor of Katzen Art Center. She can also be found performing faculty demos at the Applied Music Performance Lab (AMPL), which is a requirement for all music majors. Nobue thoroughly enjoys these opportunities to practice as a performer and share her insights on public performance with students.

Why she loves her job

Being able to work with music every day is a source of joy for Nobue, as is the chance to regularly collaborate with both students and faculty. She sees her role as the Music Librarian as a chance to “curate a community” among music lovers at AU. Consequently, the Music Library is a place where students and faculty can exchange ideas about music, find deeper resources for their research, and expand their musical tastes. For Nobue “the most exciting part of working with students is sharing new ideas with them and seeing them make discoveries as a part of the academic experience.”

In the Community

Nobue has given public performances with some of her DPA colleagues, including Professorial Lecturer Benjamin Albright, a trumpet player in “The President’s Own” United States Marine Corps Band, and Instructor Todd Baldwin, a trombone player in the U.S. Army Band “Pershing’s Own.”

Some of the talented composers within DPA have collaborated with Nobue too. She has performed pieces by Fernando Benadon, Chair of the Department of Performing Arts Chair, and Paul Oehlers, Director, Audio Technology Program.

In February, Nobue played in the United States Army Band Chamber Music Series at Fort Meyer in Arlington, VA.

Whether you catch one of her performances, stop by the Music Library for some recommendations, or make an appointment for a research consultation, Nobue’s expertise and talent will shine through.