BIOGRAPHY

Machi Ishida  –  Marimbist / Percussionist, based in Perth, Australia

 

​​​Born in Hiroshima, Japan, Machi Ishida began playing the marimba at the age of nine. She spent five formative years as a member of the Hiroshima Junior Marimba Ensemble, performing in around 400 concerts both in Japan and overseas, developing a deep, physical connection with the expressive power of rhythm and sound. At just twelve years old in 2005, she became the youngest-ever espoir prizewinner at the Osaka International Music Competition, earning national attention for her musical sensitivity.

Machi possesses a diverse and extensive academic background, spanning classical higher education in Japan, advanced studies in France, and the exploration of world percussion. After completing her studies in Music Culture Education at Hiroshima University, she studied under Momoko Kamiya at Elisabeth University of Music and under Emmanuel Séjourné in the specialist degree program at the Conservatoire de Strasbourg. Her artistic language further expanded through her study of traditional Middle Eastern percussion instruments such as darabuka, tombak, riq, and daf. (All my main teachers are lined up here)

In 2022, Machi made history at the 7th Stuttgart World Marimba Competition by becoming the first person to win three awards at one time: 1st Prize, the Audience Award, and Best Performance of the Commissioned Chamber Work. Her international recognition also includes other major percussion competitions: 4th Prize at the 2021 Universal Marimba Competition in Belgium, 1st Prize in the Duo/Trio category at the 2019 Swiss Percussion Competition, and 2nd Prize at the 2017 Taiwan International Percussion Competition.

Her performance and teaching career spans a wide range of international engagements across the United States, Germany, Denmark, Austria, France, China, Mongolia, Taiwan, Thailand, and Australia. Her multifaceted activities range from international concerts, masterclasses, and workshops to collaborations with distinguished percussionists like Adam Tan, Tanel-Eiko Novikov, and Twincussion. She also expands her global presence through digital mediums, featuring as a soloist in music video projects for Svitzer Music, the record label of Danish publisher Edition Svitzer.

Alongside her artistic activities, Machi is deeply committed to nurturing the next generation of musicians. She finds immense joy in teaching and guiding each student through both in-person and online lessons, striving to convey the essential value of music. Furthermore, she performs as the percussion duo Marimba Twins with her twin sister, delivering the joy of music to audiences of all ages, notably through their impactful educational projects that have reached thousands of elementary school students to date.

Since 2023, Machi has served as an official artist for Adams Percussion (Netherlands) and Kolberg Percussion (Germany), and as a recording artist for Svitzer Music. In 2024, she was appointed as a PR ambassador for Fuchu Town in Hiroshima Prefecture.