Nachiko Maekane

Adjunct Instructor of Percussion

maekann@sunysccc.edu
518-381-1231, ext. 2

Commenting on her New York debut, the New York Times declared, “Nachiko Maekane’s Marimba Recital at Carnegie Recital Hall was an unusual and exciting event.” Throughout the performance, Miss Maekane displayed a level of virtuosity that left audiences astounded. Her grace as she struck the marimba evoked feline elegance, and the four-octave instrument seemed like a natural extension of her arms. Notably, her ability to handle three or more mallets simultaneously allowed her to create dense contrapuntal textures with remarkable artistry.

Nachiko Maekane’s musical journey began in her native Kobe, Japan, where she started her studies at the age of three. By nine, she had taken up the marimba, and the following year, percussion. Her passion and dedication led her to graduate from Osaka Music High School and Osaka College of Music. She then received a fellowship from the International Rotary Foundation, which enabled her to pursue further studies at Philadelphia College of Performing Arts and Brooklyn College in New York, where she received the Honorable Award.

In 1983, she clinched victory at the Gaudeamus Interpreters Competition in Holland. Since then, she has graced recitals, lectures, and broadcasts across the United States, Japan, and Europe. Her recitals and concerts include the Holland Festival, the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Pro Musica Nova Bremen (Germany), the Festival of New American Music (Sacramento, CA), the Horizonte Festival (Berlin, Germany), and the Tokyo Summer Festival. In 1985, Miss Maekane joined Affiliate Artists Inc., providing week-long residencies in American towns and cities. Musical America Magazine recognized her as one of the 25 “Young Artists of 1987.”

Beyond her performances, Nachiko shared her expertise through master classes, workshops, and clinics at renowned institutions worldwide. These include the Den Haag Royal Conservatory, Rotterdam Conservatory of Music, Maastricht Conservatory, Utrecht Conservatory of Music, Sweelink Conservatory (Amsterdam Conservatory), and Zeeland Music School in Holland. Additionally, she made significant contributions to musical education at institutions such as the Royal Scottish Academy of Music in Glasgow, the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, and the Guildhall School of Music in the UK. Her impact extended to the Royal Danish Academy of Music in Copenhagen, Osaka College of Music in Japan, and several institutions in the USA, including California State University, Sacramento, Stanford University, Miami University, Asia Society, Brooklyn College, and SUNY Buffalo.