Natsumi Tamai was born in Kyoto and began playing the violin at age of four. After receiving various awards in Japan, she won the first prize and special prize in the 1992 Prague Spring International Music Competition in the 1992. She graduated from Toho Gakuen School of Music in Tokyo with her bachelor degree. She also received “Diploma d’Onore” from the summer seminar at the Accademia Musicale Chigiana in Italy.

She continued her studies with Herman Krebbers at the Sweelinck Conservatorium in Amsterdam and with Ana Chumachenco at the Hochschule für Musik in München. She won several prizes such as the 2nd prize in the J.S.Bach International Music Competition in Leipzig, the 5th prize in the 1997 the Queen Elisabeth Competition and the 2nd prize in the 2000 Jean Sibelius International Violin Competition in Helsinki, Finland.

Natsumi Tamai has given many successful concerts throughout Europe and Japan. As soloist she is guest of major orchestras, amongst them Russian national Philharmonic, Helsinki Philharmonic, Slovak Philharmonic, NHK symphony orchestra and Osaka Philharmonic.

Currently she is a professor at Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music (Geidai), a member of Kioi Sinfonietta Tokyo and concertmistress of Geidai Philharmonia and Ensemble of Tokyo.