Mika Nakamura, percussion

Born and raised in Southern California, Mika Nakamura began studying percussion at age eighteen. An avid orchestral and chamber performer, she has collaborated with various artists and organizations including the Magik*Magik Orchestra, Switchboard Music, Bard Music West, eighth blackbird, yMusic and Sō Percussion in venues throughout the US, including Davies Symphony Hall. 

In 2019, she directed the 10th Annual Hot Air Music Festival, an all-day new music marathon celebrating contemporary classical repertoire written within the last fifty years. The season included over 80 artists from across the country and held one of the Festival's most successful fundraising campaigns to headline the program with Steve Reich’s Music for 18 Musicians. 

Ms. Nakamura is a graduate of the University of California, Los Angeles and the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. Her mentors include Mitchell Peters, Raynor Carroll, Theresa Dimond, Jacob Nissly, Trey Wyatt, Jack Van Geem and Ed Stephan. 

Mika also enjoys cooking, baking and running in her spare time.