Maki Namekawa is a leading figure among today’s pianists, bringing to audiences’ attention contemporary music by international composers. she performs regularly at international venues such as Carnegie Hall, Musikverein Vienna, Barbican Center, Philharmonie de Paris, Het Concertgebouw Amsterdam. In 2013, she performed the world premiere of the entire cycle of Philip Glass’ 20 etudes for piano solo in Australia under the participation of Glass himself, followed by concerts around the world. Her album of the complete Glass etudes has been released in 2014, reaching number 1 of the iTunes Classic charts and receiving high praise by BBC Music Magazine. In 2019 Philip Glass composed his first Piano Sonata especially for Maki Namekawa. She premiered the Sonata in the presence of the composer at the Klavier-Festival Ruhr. Maki Namekawa‘s repertory for the season 2022/23 includes works by Keith Jarrett, Chick Corea, György Ligeti.

makinamekawa.com

Training

Solist Kunitachi Concervatory in Tokyo with Mikio Ikezawa, Henriette Puig-Roget

Solist Musikhochschule Karlsruhe with Werner Genuit, Kaya Han

Solist Musikhochschule Köln with Pierre-Laurent Aimard

Major work and collaborations

2013 Philip Glass 20 etudes for piano solo (world premiere)

2013 Two Movements for Four Pianos, Philip Glass (composition for Katia and Marielle Labèque, and Piano Duo Namekawa-Davies - world premiere)

2018 MISHIMA - A Life in Four Chapters, Philip Glass arr. Michael Riesman - world premiere (CD)

2018 Interludium A, Isang Yun (CD „Sunrise Falling“)

2019 Piano Sonata, Philip Glass (world premiere)

2019 Variation 57, Joe Hisaishi (composition for Piano Duo Namekawa-Davies and chamber orchestra - world premiere

She has played with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Münchner Philharmoniker, Bamberger Symphoniker, Dresdner Philharmonie, Bruckner Orchester Linz, Sinfonieorchester Basel, Filharmonie Brno, American Composers Orchestra and Seattle Symphony, among others.

Awards 

1994 Leonid Kreuzer Prize

2017 Klavier-Festival Ruhr Award

2018 Pasticcio Prize by ORF Austrian National Radio Broadcast

2019 Pasticcio Prize by ORF Austrian National Radio Broadcast