Mai Tategami began playing the violin at the age of six. She made her orchestral debut at the age of 14 with Yutaka Sado and the Super Kids Orchestra, later serving as its inaugural concertmaster. From the age of 16, she studied under Seiji Ozawa through the Saito Kinen Chamber Music Study Group and the Seiji Ozawa Music Academy, becoming one of the youngest participants in both programs. She has performed with the Saito Kinen Orchestra since 2016. Mai has received numerous awards and distinctions in Japan and abroad. She was selected as one of the “Violinists to Watch” by Ongaku no Tomo in 2015 and won the first Orford Music Award in Canada in 2016. Her other distinctions include the Doseikai Prize upon graduating from Tokyo University of the Arts, Third Prize at the SMF International Music Competition in the United States, the Special Prize at the Japan Mozart International Competition, the ABC Music Audition, and the Special Prize at the Johannes Brahms International Competition. As a chamber musician, she received the Best Chamber Music Award at the Pablo Casals Music Festival in France. She studied with Koichiro Harada, Chihiro Kudo, Aaron Rosand, Gérard Poulet, Takashi Shimizu, Axel Gerhardt, and Michael Frischenschlager. She graduated with highest honors from the Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler Berlin and earned her Master’s degree with highest honors from the Berlin University of the Arts (Universität der Künste Berlin). Her orchestral career has included positions with the Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin, where she was an academy student and subsequently a temporary contracted member, and the Beethoven Orchester Bonn, where she was a full-time member. She later joined the London Philharmonic Orchestra as a contracted No. 4 violinist (second concertmaster) and served as Assistant Concertmaster of the New Japan Philharmonic. She has also appeared as guest concertmaster and principal violinist with major orchestras in Japan. As a soloist and chamber musician, Mai has performed throughout Japan, Europe, and North America. She has been invited to international chamber music festivals in Europe and North America and, following her Orford Music Award, has received concert engagements in Canada and other countries. She has also been invited to perform by the Embassy of Japan in Germany and has collaborated with numerous distinguished musicians. Her artistic activities have been supported by the Agency for Cultural Affairs of Japan, the Yamaha Music Foundation, and the Rohm Music Foundation through their respective overseas study and scholarship programs. She has appeared on NHK-FM’s “Recital Passio.” Mai is currently a resident member of the Japan National Orchestra, led by pianist and conductor Kyohei Sorita.