Mayu Kishima studied the violin in her homeland with, among others, Toshiya Eto and Machie Oguri, before undertaking further studies with Zakhar Bron at the Hochschule für Musik in Cologne. In 2001 she distinguished herself at the Wieniawski Competition for Young Violinists; she later won first prize at the Patras (2003, Greece) and Novosibirsk (2004, Russia) international competitions. She has performed in Japan and in a number of European cities and has appeared with various orchestras, including the Japan and Prague Philharmonics, the Hungarian National Philharmonic Orchestra, the Orchestra dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, the London Symphony Orchestra, and the Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks.