Rie Shimada was born in Hyōogo, Japan. She began piano lessons at the age of 6, and from 1994 to 1997 attended Nishinomiya High School in Hyōogo, studying piano in the Music Department. From 1997 to 2003 she studied at the Kyoto City University of the Arts with Prof. Naoyuki Taneda and Prof. Ikuyo Kamiya. From 2004 she continued her studies at the Mannheim University of Music and Performing Arts with Prof. Robert Benz. In 2007 she completed her master’s degree with the top grade and continued her studies in solo performance at the same University.
Rie Shimada won first prize in the 1996 PTNA (Piano Teachers Nationwide Association) Piano Competition in the F category in Western Japan, and a gold medal and the Kyoto Newspaper Prize in the 1998 Kyoto Piano Competition. She also won second prize at the 1998 Suita Music Competition in the piano solo category in Osaka. She was awarded first prize at the third ”Fausto Zadra” International Piano Master Competition in Italy. At the 14th International Johannes Brahms Competition Pörtschach/Wörthersee she won the special prize for the best interpretation of the compulsory piece and the 2007 Music Award for young, talented musicians. She also won fourth prize at the 18th International Piano Competition A.M.A. Calabria 2008 in Italy.
Rie Shimada is also a chamber musician and accompanist. She gives chamber music concerts in Germany, Japan and Greece, and as an accompanist, she plays in various masterclasses. Since 2011, Rie Shimada has worked at the Mannheim University of Music and Performing Arts.