Mayumi Hama

Biography

Mayumi Hama, marimbist, is recognized for her flawless technique, remarkable control of dynamics and color, and finely honed sense of phrase structure. Her first CD, Soundscapes (2000), received high acclaim from critics. Lisa Rogers of Percussive Arts Society Note (June 2001) wrote: “Mayumi Hama is an extraordinary marimba player. Her command of the marimba and understanding of Keiko Abe’s music is astounding. I have heard several excellent recordings featuring marimba artists, and Hama’s recording is at the top of the list. Her accuracy and spirit of expression are equally daunting. […] I also believe Soundscapes will become a standard recording for all aspiring marimbists to learn from and enjoy.”

At the age of 13, Mayumi Hama made her solo debut with the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra. Around the same time, she began appearing on Japanese television programs, including NHK, Japan’s national public broadcaster. In 1999, she was awarded second prize at the 2nd World Marimba Competition. In 2025, she performed with the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra. She is a registered artist with the Sony Music Foundation and a Yamaha Artist.

As a featured guest solo artist, she has performed at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention’s New Music/Research Day “Time for Marimba” in Texas, La Folle Journée Tokyo 2015, the World Marimba Festival in Suita, and La Folle Journée Niigata 2016. She has also collaborated with Keiko Abe at the Universal Marimba Festival 2007 in Belgium, the Taipei International Percussion Convention 2008, the 6th World Marimba Competition Stuttgart 2012 in Germany, and the Lausanne International Marimba Academy 2017 in Switzerland.

Beyond her extensive career as a solo artist in Japan and abroad, Hama also actively collaborates with many different instrument artists and composers to introduce and explore various facets of marimba. As an educator and masterclass clinician, she has taught at the University of Michigan (USA), University of California, Davis (USA), University of Science Arts of Chiapas (Mexico), Mongolian State Conservatory (Mongolia), Taiwan National University of the Arts (Taiwan), National Kaohsiung Normal University (Taiwan), and Tunghai University (Taiwan). She has also served as a faculty member of the Keiko Abe International Academy in Taiwan and South Korea, where she led master classes for aspiring marimbists. In 2011, Hama was appointed as a jury member for the 1st Latin America Marimba Competition in Chiapas, Mexico.

SPECIALTIES:
Marimba
Works by Keiko Abe
Works by Japanese composers
Classical to modern and contemporary works for marimba

LANGUAGES:
Japanese