Anglo-Japanese Mariko Brown began her piano studies with Martyn Dyke, with whom she performed regularly including many outreach community projects. She made her first concerto appearance age nine under Dr Ruth Gipps, subsequently going on to study with Joan Havill at the Guildhall School Junior Department, where she won the prestigious Lutine Prize. This led to concerto appearances at the Barbican Hall and St Giles Cripplegate as part of the City of London Festival. During this time she also took up composition with Gary Carpenter, receiving a prize for her Oboe Sonata. She was awarded the principal’s prize on graduation from the junior department and went on to continue her studies in the senior department with Joan Havill and Gary Carpenter, and also Simon Bainbridge, graduating in 2000. Her Piano Sonata, commissioned and performed by Helen Reid, in 2004, was given its première at Bridgewater Hall, Manchester. A dedicated teacher, Mariko Brown taught for many years at Junior Guildhall and currently teaches at the Yehudi Menuhin School.