Keiko Abe

Biography

Keiko Abe

Keiko Abe is known for an international marimba player and a great composer in modern marimba world. She has performed in more than 60 countries with prominent orchestras, percussion groups and Jazz artists beyond genres. She attains the world-wide reputation as one of the greatest musicians in the music history. She teaches young marimba players in over a hundred music schools in Japan, Asia, U.S.A. and Europe.

It has been 40 years since Yamaha and a legend marimba player, Keiko Abe started collaborating to develop instruments. Till today, Yamaha and Keiko Abe have been firmly united under the passion to develop the marimba to maximize virtuosities of soloists. This collaboration led the development of the first 5 octave marimba in the world and it has established the foundations of modern marimba world. Then, the YM-6100 was developed as a culmination of the 40-year collaboration between Yamaha and Keiko Abe.

Nozomi Hiwatashi

postgraduate student / freelancer

Ray Cooper

Percussionist