Mayumi Tsuchida - Biography

19-year old pianist Mayumi Tsuchida has been gaining widespread recognition as an important up-and-coming musician. Born in Japan on June 8, 1991, Mayumi started her piano studies at age 3 and gave her first solo concert at the age of 7. Since then she has performed in several international venues as both a soloist and a chamber musician.

In 2000, at the age of 10, she founded her piano trio - the Luna Trio - and has been featured on nationally broadcast radio and television shows throughout the United States. Mayumi made her Carnegie Hall debut with her trio in 2008 for the PBS television show 'From the Top', showcasing America’s most talented young musicians. The trio has also been featured on national radio shows such as 'From The Top' and 'West Coast Live'. In 2007, the San Francisco 7x7 Magazine selected the Luna Trio for their annual ‘Hot 20 Under Forty,’ which selects “people who are making a positive impact in the SF Bay Area”.

In the past few years, Mayumi has attended many prestigious summer festivals including the Heifetz International Music Institute, Yellow Barn Music Festival, and Music@Menlo. This summer, she was one of eight pianists in the world invited to participate in the Verbier Festival Academy in Switzerland where she studied with Menahem Pressler and Dimitri Bashkirov.

Mayumi has worked with many world-class musicians including Richard Goode, Peter Serkin, and André Watts. She is currently a sophomore pursuing a double major in Piano Performance and Biology at the Bard Conservatory/College, studying with Melvin Chen, Associate Director of the Bard Conservatory. She previously studied with John McCarthy as a scholarship student in the Preparatory Division of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.

She has performed and participated in many master classes Internationally, among them:

Andre Watts, world renowned pianist, also received private lessons

Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers, recipient of Grammy Awards in 1977 and nominee for Grammy Awards in 2006

Prof. Tori Stodle of Tromso University Norway in San Francisco

Prof. Nador at the Liszt Music Institute in Hungary

Prof. Jozef Stompel at the Musical Academy in Katowice

Prof./Conductor Kaneshige at the Univ. of Mie, Japan

Pianist Recording Artist, Yin Cheng-zong of China in SF

Prof. Michael Boyd of the Univ. of Toledo in SF

Pianist Recording Artist, Paul Roberts is a Fellow of the Guildhall School of Music & Drama of London in SF

She has won numerous 1st prizes, notable among them are the:

2009 - Music Teachers Association of California, MTAC, “State Solo Piano Competition"

2009 - "San Francisco Young Pianists Competition"

2008 - "Ross McKee Foundation Piano Competition"

2006 - "University of the Pacific Piano Competition" sponsored by Henry & Carol Zeiter

2005 - "10th Annual San Francisco Chopin Competition for Young Pianists"

2004 - in her trio "The Luna Trio" the California State Ensemble Competition (the MTAC VOCE Competition)

2003 - TYS Television Network Piano Competition (Japan)

2003 - Sanyo Piano Competition (Japan).

Performances of note - (to see a comprehensive listing please visit the Concert Schedules section of our website)

2009

In the "Marin Music Chest Young Artists Concert"

2008

In the Piano Sisters 2nd Annual Conservatory Concert at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music

Pacific Union presents "Concerts at the Presidio" at the Golden Gate Club, Presidio of San Francisco

For the Heifetz International Music Institute Fundraising Concert in Beverly Hills

2007

The Pacific Musical Society's 97th Annual Christmas Gala Dinner, Concert and Silent Auction, Fairmont Hotel, San Francisco

A full program for the Music at Kohl Mansion Donor Event

Pacific Union presents Concerts at the Presidio at the Golden Gate Club, Presidio of San Francisco

2006

at the San Francisco International Music Festival presents A Duo Grand Piano Concert as "The Piano Sisters" with Rieko

She is also the pianist and founder of “The Luna Trio”. Under the auspices of SFCM Chamber Music Program, "The Luna Trio" is steadily gaining in popularity.

The Luna Trio - Notable Concerts and Competitions

2009 - performed at the Stanford University Auditorium

2008 - played at Stanford University

Performed for the From The Top Gala Concert in Boston

Was interviewed and played Carnegie Hall in New York City. It was videotaped for National Public Radio's "FROM THE TOP" television show. And has aired twice nationally on PBS television stations.

2007 - published in 7x7sf magazine's annual Hot 20 under 40! "THE HOT 20 UNDER 40 The house is (once again) on fire, thanks to this year’s influx of movers and shakers......"

2006 - was interviewed and played on the national radio show “From The Top” in Boston

was interviewed and played on the nationally syndicated radio program “West Coast Live”

performed at the University of Judaism, Los Angeles

2005 - performed at the World Trade Club of San Francisco

played at the Chamber Music America Conference at Herbst Hall

played a pre-ballet concert for the Smuin Ballet at the Yerba Buena Center of the Arts

2004 - "The Luna Trio" won the California State Ensemble Competition (the MTAC VOCE Competition)

Mayumi is currently a Freshman at Bard College/Conservatory, pursuing a double major in piano performance and biology. In addition to music she enjoys reading, tennis, swimming, working-out and mountain biking.