Birth

:

in Tokyo, Japan

 

Maki Namekawa is a renowned classical music artist who has made a name for herself as a pianist and chamber musician. Born in Osaka, Japan in 1972, Namekawa began playing the piano at the age of three and showed a natural talent for the instrument. She went on to study at the Toho Gakuen School of Music in Tokyo, where she received her Bachelor's and Master's degrees in piano performance. Namekawa's career as a professional musician began in the early 1990s, when she won several prestigious piano competitions in Japan. She quickly gained recognition for her technical skill and musical sensitivity, and began performing regularly in Japan and abroad. In 1995, she made her debut at the Berlin Philharmonic, playing Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 4 with the Berlin Symphony Orchestra. Since then, Namekawa has performed with many of the world's leading orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic, the London Symphony Orchestra, and the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra. She has also collaborated with some of the most celebrated conductors of our time, such as Seiji Ozawa, Kent Nagano, and Esa-Pekka Salonen. One of the highlights of Namekawa's career was her performance of Philip Glass's complete piano works at the composer's 80th birthday celebration in 2017. Namekawa has been a longtime collaborator with Glass, and has recorded several of his works for piano. Her performance of his complete piano works was hailed as a tour de force, and cemented her reputation as one of the foremost interpreters of Glass's music. In addition to her work as a soloist, Namekawa is also an accomplished chamber musician. She has performed with many of the world's leading string quartets, including the Tokyo String Quartet, the Emerson String Quartet, and the Arditti Quartet. She has also collaborated with other pianists, such as Dennis Russell Davies and Pierre-Laurent Aimard. Namekawa has recorded extensively throughout her career, with over 30 albums to her name. Her recordings have received critical acclaim and numerous awards, including the German Record Critics' Award and the Diapason d'Or. She has recorded works by a wide range of composers, from Bach and Beethoven to Glass and Ligeti. In addition to her performing and recording career, Namekawa is also a dedicated teacher. She has taught at the Toho Gakuen School of Music, the Hochschule für Musik und Theater in Munich, and the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna. She is known for her patient and supportive teaching style, and has mentored many young pianists who have gone on to successful careers in music. Throughout her career, Namekawa has been recognized for her contributions to classical music. In 2018, she was awarded the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany, one of the country's highest honors. She has also been awarded the Suntory Music Award, the Japan Record Academy Award, and the Idemitsu Music Award, among others. Namekawa continues to perform and record regularly, and is widely regarded as one of the most talented and versatile pianists of her generation. Her dedication to her craft and her passion for music have made her a beloved figure in the classical music world, and her legacy is sure to endure for many years to come.

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