Mami Shikimori is a renowned classical pianist who has captivated audiences around the world with her virtuosic performances and deep musicality. Born in Tokyo, Japan in 1978, Shikimori began playing the piano at the age of four and quickly showed a natural talent for the instrument. She studied with some of the most respected teachers in Japan, including Hiroko Nakamura and Kazuko Yasukawa, and went on to attend the Toho Gakuen School of Music in Tokyo. Shikimori's talent was recognized early on, and she won numerous awards and competitions as a young pianist. In 1993, she won first prize in the Japan Classical Music Competition, and in 1995, she was awarded the prestigious Idemitsu Music Award. These early successes paved the way for a career as a professional pianist, and Shikimori began performing regularly in Japan and abroad. One of the highlights of Shikimori's early career was her performance at the 1998 Prague Spring International Music Festival. She was the first Japanese pianist to be invited to perform at the festival, and her performance was met with critical acclaim. This performance helped to establish Shikimori as a rising star in the classical music world, and she began to receive invitations to perform at other major festivals and concert halls around the world. Over the years, Shikimori has performed with some of the world's leading orchestras, including the London Philharmonic Orchestra, the Berlin Symphony Orchestra, and the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra. She has also collaborated with many renowned conductors, such as Vladimir Ashkenazy, Seiji Ozawa, and Myung-Whun Chung. One of the most memorable performances of Shikimori's career was her 2005 performance of Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 2 with the London Philharmonic Orchestra. This performance was recorded and released on CD, and it received widespread critical acclaim. The Guardian called it "a performance of great depth and beauty," while Gramophone praised Shikimori's "sensitive and nuanced playing." In addition to her work as a soloist, Shikimori is also an accomplished chamber musician. She has performed with many of the world's leading chamber ensembles, including the Tokyo String Quartet and the Emerson String Quartet. She is also a founding member of the Tokyo Piano Trio, which has released several critically acclaimed recordings. Shikimori's repertoire is wide-ranging, and she is known for her interpretations of both classical and contemporary music. She has premiered works by many contemporary composers, including Toshio Hosokawa and Toru Takemitsu. She is also a passionate advocate for the music of female composers, and has performed works by Clara Schumann, Fanny Mendelssohn, and Amy Beach, among others. Throughout her career, Shikimori has received numerous awards and honors for her contributions to the world of classical music. In 2002, she was awarded the Suntory Music Award, one of the most prestigious music awards in Japan. In 2010, she was awarded the Medal with Purple Ribbon by the Japanese government in recognition of her contributions to the arts. Despite her many accomplishments, Shikimori remains humble and dedicated to her craft. She continues to perform regularly around the world, and is known for her passionate and deeply expressive playing. Her recordings and performances have earned her a devoted following of fans, and she is widely regarded as one of the most talented and exciting pianists of her generation.

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