Biography
Born in Nara, Japan, in 1995, the violinist moved to Germany after graduating from school and began studying with Latica Honda-Rosenberg at the Universität der Künste Berlin in 2014. She completed both her bachelor's and master's degrees there with top marks. She is currently enrolled in the master's program in chamber music at the Hanns Eisler Academy of Music in Berlin as a member of Trio Ex.
After completing her training at the Karajan Academy of the Berlin Philharmonic, Mayu Tomotaki joined the DSO's first violin section in August 2024. Previously, she was a scholarship holder of Villa Musica Rhineland-Palatinate, the German Music Foundation, the Friends of Young Musicians Foundation, and the Japanese Cultural Affairs Office as part of the foreign scholarship program for young artists (2017). She also worked as a substitute with the Berlin Philharmonic and the Kioi Chamber Orchestra in Tokyo.
Her competition successes include third prize (no first prize awarded) at the 7th Sendai International Music Competition, first prize at the 25th Queen Sophie Charlotte Competition, 1st prize at the 1st International Odessa Violin Competition, the Akishino Music Hall Artist Award, the jury prize at the Andrea Postacchini Violin Competition, 1st prize at the All Japan Student Music Competition, and the Grand Prix at the Japan Classical Music Competition.
Concert appearances have taken her to numerous international festivals, including Krzyżowa Music, the Seiji Ozawa International Academy Switzerland, the Zermatt Music Festival, the Verbier Festival, the Mahler Academy, and the Encuentro de Música y Academia de Santander. As a soloist, she has performed with the Kansai Philharmonic Orchestra, the Sendai Philharmonic Orchestra, the Jena Symphony Orchestra, and the Polish Chamber Philharmonic Sopot, among others. In 2021, she appeared on the NHK FM program Recital Passio.
In addition to her orchestral activities, Mayu Tomotaki is also intensely involved in chamber music. As a member of Trio Ex, she was awarded third prize at the Lyon International Chamber Music Competition and second prize at the Alice Samter Chamber Music Competition. In 2025, the trio will make its Japanese debut at the renowned Kioi Hall in Tokyo.