PROFILE

HIMARI

Violinist

Born in 2011, Japan (Age 14).

HIMARI has been described as a “once-in-a-generation talent,” captivating the global classical music scene as a sensational teen with her exceptional technique, imaginative interpretations, and deep expressiveness.

In March 2025, she made her debut with the Berliner Philharmoniker in a subscription concert, becoming the youngest Asian soloist ever to appear with the orchestra.

She began playing the violin at the age of three, studying under Koichiro Harada and Machie Oguri. At six, she performed with a professional orchestra, and in 2022, she became the youngest student admitted to the prestigious Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. She is currently studying under Ida Kavafian, a world-renowned mentor who has nurtured many leading soloists, further deepening her musical expression.

HIMARI has won top prizes in numerous international competitions, including the Lipinski & Wieniawski International Violin Competition (Grand Prix), Arthur Grumiaux International Violin Competition, Andrea Postacchini International Violin Competition, and Schelkunchik International Music Competition.

In 2019, she became the youngest performer at the Salzburg Festival, and in 2023, she won the Public Award at Mini Violini in Montreal. Even at a young age, she has performed on major stages worldwide, receiving high acclaim.

She has performed with leading orchestras including the Berliner Philharmoniker, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Philadelphia Orchestra, Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra, Russian National Philharmonic Orchestra, Kyiv Philharmonic Orchestra, NHK Symphony Orchestra, Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra, New Japan Philharmonic, Tokyo Symphony Orchestra, and Japan Philharmonic Orchestra. She has collaborated with conductors such as Marin Alsop, Jonathan Nott,Sebastian Weigle, Jan Willem de Vriend, Keri-Lynn Wilson, Vladimir Spivakov, Nikolai Jajura, Jean-Christophe Spinosi, Kazuyoshi Akiyama, Junichi Hirokami, Tatsuya Shimono, Keitaro Harada, Toshiaki Umeda, Kenichiro Kobayashi, Naoto Otomo, Kosuke Tsunoda, and Kanade Yokoyama.

Since 2024, she has been represented by KD SCHMID, a leading German music agency, further expanding her international career. In December of that year, at just 13 years old, she successfully completed her first nationwide recital tour, “HIMARI Violin Recital Tour 2024” (Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, Fukuoka).

In 2025, alongside performances with major orchestras in Japan, she appeared as a soloist with the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande on its Japan tour, and made a highly successful U.S. debut at the Ravinia Festival with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. In autumn 2025, she is scheduled to perform with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, and Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, followed by her appearance in February 2026 with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in its subscription concerts.

In March 2025, she signed an exclusive contract with the prestigious Decca Classics label, releasing her first recording on the same day. This marked the beginning of a new phase in her artistic journey, broadening her scope and exploring new possibilities of musical expression.

She is a recipient of the 52nd Ezoe Memorial Recruit Foundation Scholarship.

©Meredith Truax