川島余理三歲開始學習鋼琴，進入桐朋學園附設音樂教室，之後就讀於東京藝術大學附屬高中、東京藝術大學音樂學部及研究所，主修作曲。在學期間受到指導老師安麗葉特・普伊・羅傑的影響，決定成為職業演奏家，於 1989 年赴法留學。留法期間曾經獲得布隆尼音樂學院室內樂第一獎、國立巴黎高等音樂院鋼琴暨鋼琴伴奏第一獎，其後取得古鋼琴演奏文憑，並再次獲得布隆尼音樂學院室內樂第一獎，師事奧利維・加東與潔內葉維・裘伊。

川島余理於 1987 年 PTNA 全日本鋼琴教師協會大賽獲得特級雙鋼琴組第一名、1992 年蘭西維勒蒙布勒市鋼琴比賽連彈組第一名、1993 年拉威爾音樂院博納美術館獎、1996 年波爾多國際音樂節入選、2000 年義大利特拉尼國際鋼琴大賽決賽入圍等。自 1993-2005 年，川島余理擔任巴黎區立中央音樂院與十六區區立音樂院之鋼琴講師及伴奏，巴黎市立 CNR 音樂院、巴黎十區區立音樂院、市立師範音樂院等校之伴奏，1996-1997 年間則擔任國立巴黎高等音樂學院小提琴組伴奏。2005 年回到日本之後，川島則擔任東京藝術大學絃樂科及其附屬高中之伴奏，現為東京藝術大學及昭和立樂大學視唱聽寫講師。

川島余理不論在獨奏或室內樂方面都擁有豐富的表演經歷，更數次與交響樂團合作演出協奏曲；此外，她作為伴奏也獲得極高評價，經常受邀前往各地擔任音樂講習會、大師班、考試與比賽之專任伴奏，並且為小提琴大師吉拉・普雷擔任伴奏。

Yori Kawashima was born in Tokyo where she started learning piano at age three. She received her bachelor and master degree at Tokyo University of Arts (Composition). While she was studying with Henriette Puig-Roger she was strongly recommended to study in Paris. After graduating in 1989 she went to pursue her study at Conservatoire Superieur de Paris (class of Olivier Gardon). She finished the Coservatoire with the first prize (premier Prix) both in piano and piano accompaniment. She studied also with Genevieve Joy-Dutilleux.

She won a first prize of PTNA competition in Japan in 1987 (piano duo category) and the finalist of the international piano competition of Trani in Italy in 2000. She won also the first prize in a concours of competition with violin solo piece “Suite pour Violon” in Osaka in 2005.

As a chamber musician she performed with many celebrated musician in Europe and played several times with orchestra , also for Radio France. Because of her reputations as an exceptional accompanist, she was invited to several major international competitions and music festivals such as China International Violin Competition in Quingdao and Long-Thibaud Concours in Paris in 2005.

She taught and accompanied at the Conservatoire Municipal du Centre, 10th and 16th district, Conservatoire National Superiuer de Musique de Paris, Conservatoire National de Region de Paris and Ecole Normale de Musique de Paris. She exclusively collaborated with the violinist Gerard Poulet. Currently she is teaching at Tokyo University of Arts and Showa University of Music in Japan.