Mariko is the organist at Westminster. A native of Japan, Mariko grew up in Iwakuni in the southern part of Honshu (Main) Island where a US base is located. There she began her musical training at age 4 and was introduced to American culture. After obtaining an English degree at Nanzan Junior College in Nagoya, she came to the US to study the pipe organ, receiving Bachelor and Master of Sacred Music degrees from Seton Hill and Emory Universities, and a Doctor of Music from Indiana University in Bloomington. Her love of Bach took her to Leipzig, Germany for further summer studies, earning performer’s certificates. For the last 25 years, she has served for churches in 7 states, including University Church and Chapel at Emory University in Atlanta, GA, West End United Methodist Church in Nashville, TN, St. Anne Church in Rochester and Christ Episcopal Church in Corning, NY. She is Instructor of Organ at UNI where she also works as a collaborative keyboardist. Aside from making music, Mariko loves traveling, cooking, flowers, good coffee and tea, and spending time with her daughter, husband and friends.