Kana Funayama is a Japanese marimbist, percussionist, and arranger whose performance career sees her in a wide range of engagements as soloist, ensemble player, and collaborative artist.

As a soloist, Funayama has presented recitals in prominent venues and media outlets across both in the US and Japan, including performances in Tokyo, Sendai in Japan, Rochester (New York), Los Angeles, Seattle, and on Classical KING FM, among others. Her recent appearance at the Classical KING FM's Northwest Live Session was featured among NPR Music Live Sessions’ Top 4 Most-Viewed Songs in February 2025. 

Funayama has also been featured soloist at numerous concerts, including at La Folle Journée TOKYO, "Geisai" in Tokyo, the Chosen Vale International Percussion Seminar, Eastman Percussion Ensemble, to name just a few. Additionally, she has performed concertos with the Sendai Philharmonic Orchestra (Japan), the Walla Walla Symphony (Washington), USC Thornton Symphony, and Whittier Regional Symphony (California). 

As an ensemble player, Funayama has collaborated with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Santa Barbara Symphony, Tokyo Geidai Philharmonia, and many others. 

Funayama is an active collaborator with instrumentalists and composers, regularly performing in recitals, album and film recordings, and the premiere performances of new works. She has been involved in premiering a wide repertoire of works including those by award-winning composer Billy Childs. Actively commissioning new compositions, she is dedicated to expanding and diversifying the marimba repertoire across various music styles and genres, leading to the promotion and popularization of the instrument.

As an educator, Funayama has been invited to give masterclasses and guest lectures at institutions including the USC Thornton School of Music and Fullerton College. She was also invited to present as a guest artist at the Eastman Online Percussion Festival in 2021. Throughout her career, she has visited over 30 schools across Japan, including in Fukushima, Kumamoto, and Tokyo, where she has taught private lessons and led band coaching for younger percussionists. In Los Angeles, she teaches annually at the Colburn School’s Intensive Piano Camp and has also led workshops and masterclasses at USC.

Funayama earned her Bachelor of Music from Tokyo University of the Arts, and her Master of Music from Eastman School of Music where she received the esteemed Performance Certificate and Milton Schlesinger Percussion Prize. She completed her Artist Diploma at USC Thornton School of Music, graduating with the Outstanding Graduate Award and becoming the first percussionist ever accepted into the program. Funayama is an artist endorser of Innovative Percussion Inc.