Fumi Nishikiori-Nakayama earned her Bachelor of Music in Piano and Harpsichord degree from the Chicago Musical College of Roosevelt University, and Master of Music in Piano and Early Music/Harpsichord from Indiana University, where she was the recipient of numerous awards including the prestigious Rudolph Ganz Memorial Award, and Willi Apel Scholarship. She has studied piano with Ludmila Lazar, Shigeo Neriki, harpsichord with David Schrader, Elisabeth Wright, fortepiano with Elizabeth Wright and Kenneth Drake, chamber music with Rostislav Dubinsky, early chamber music with Stanley Ritchie, and conducting with Thomas Baldner and Imre Pallo.

As a conductor, she has conducted Indiana University Symphony Orchestra, IU Ad-hoc Orchestra, IU Opera Workshops. Her love for vocal music and theater lead her to remain as one of the opera coaches for Indiana University Opera Theater for 6 years.

Currently Ms. Nishikiori is an adjunct faculty member of the Carthage Music Department and teaches for the Carthage Arts Academy. She has received the Dalcroze Certificate from Dr. Robert Abramson at Juilliard School Dalcroze Institute and received the Dalcroze License from Dr. Jeremy Dittus of the Dalcroze School of Music and Movement.   She often gives demonstrations and lectures to music teachers and students in the Midwest. She frequently performs as a member of Trio Celeste, and also collaborates with greater Milwaukee and Chicago area artists.