Popular Flutist From Japan Hopes To Fuse Her Interests In Fashion, Music

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Japanese native Riria Niimura is a 20-year-old woman with many talents that include dancing, modeling and being an entrepreneur.

But it's music that is her first love, especially the flute, which she began playing as a toddler.

"I was really mesmerized at the beauty of the flute and I wanted to play the flute when I was 3 years old but it didn't happen because I was too small," she said.

That was then.

Niimura was a star in Japan as an 8-year-old appearing in a competition on national television and later growing into an accomplished classical flutist.

"I love music," she said. "When I perform music, it is something that I am giving to someone."

Niimura's popularity quickly grew. She competed and played in orchestras around the world until she was 16.

But her dream was to come to Los Angeles, a city that ultimately has offered her everything she dreamed of, including playing at the prestigious Colburn Conservatory of Music.

"At Colburn, I love the place," she said. "That was such a great experience showing everything I got in one stage, which is classical music crossover in my designing part."

Niimura is a graduate of the Colburn Music Academy, the Colburn School's pre-college preparatory division and continued her studies at the Colburn Conservatory of Music. Now, she is aiming even higher and looking to fuse her interests in fashion and music.

"Some people say that you have to focus on one thing. Like if you're good at flute, than you should just go with the flute," she said. "I just wanted to be unique. I just wanted to be original.

"The flute is just part of myself like who I am. I want to express more of myself with my voice, with my body, everything," she said.