Nanae Mimura is a Japanese marimbist and vibraphonist whose repertoire spans classical, contemporary, pop and folk music. Her work includes international recitals, concerto commissions, recordings and teaching.

Education and early career

Born in Nagano Prefecture in 1974, Mimura began studying marimba at three. She graduated at the top of her class from Kunitachi College of Music in 1997 and received the Takeoka Prize. She continued her studies in the United States, earning a master’s degree from the Boston Conservatory in 2000, where she studied with Nancy Zeltsman. She subsequently taught at Berklee College of Music.

In 1997 she won first prize in the Percussive Arts Society Marimba Solo Competition. She won the Concert Artists Guild Competition in New York in 1999, leading to her New York debut recital at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall.

Performance and new repertoire

Mimura has performed across North America, Europe, Asia and Latin America. In Guatemala she has appeared with the national orchestra and became an honorary member of the Guatemala Marimba Society in 2001.

She commissioned Takashi Yoshimatsu’s marimba concerto Bird Rhythmics, Op. 109, and gave its world premiere in 2010 with the Kyoto Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Norichika Iimori. A recording of her 2011 performance with Iimori and the Yamagata Symphony Orchestra was released by Nippon Columbia in 2014.

On March 13, 2025, she premiered the concerto version of Steven Snowden’s Long Distance with the Kunitachi Wind Orchestra, conducted by Shiro Ide. The work combines solo percussion, played on marimba and vibraphone, with wind orchestra.

Teaching and professional activities

Mimura is a lecturer in percussion at Showa University of Music (as of October 2, 2026). She has given masterclasses at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna and the Conservatorium van Amsterdam. Her jury work includes the 2013 Universal Marimba Competition in Belgium and the online rounds of the German Marimba Society’s 2024–2025 international competition.

She is a Yamaha Performing Artist, and Encore Mallets produces her signature mallets.

Selected recordings

Marimba Crystal 2 – Geometric includes music by Andy Akiho, Nico Muhly, Gordon Stout, Elliot Cole and Steven Snowden, with Mimura playing marimba and vibraphone.