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 as the youngest Asian soloist in a subscription concert with the Berliner Philharmoniker.
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 prestigious orchestras including the Berliner Philharmoniker, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Philadelphia Orchestra, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Moscow Philharmonic, Russian National Philharmonic Orchestra, Kyiv National Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra, NHK Symphony Orchestra, Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra, New Japan Philharmonic, and Tokyo Symphony Orchestra. She has worked with esteemed conductors including Jaap van Zweden, Jonathan Nott, Sebastian Weigle, Kahchun Wong, Manfred Honeck, Marin Alsop, Jan Willem de Vriend, Peter Oundjian, Vladimir Spivakov, Jean-Christophe Spinosi, Kazuyoshi Akiyama, Junichi Hirokami, Tatsuya Shimono, Keitaro Harada, and Toshiaki Umeda.
Since 2024, she has been represented by KD SCHMID, a leading German music agency, further expanding her international career. In 2025, she became the youngest artist to sign an exclusive contract with the prestigious Decca Classics and released her debut EP, HIMARI.
In June 2026, she will perform in subscription concerts with the NHK Symphony Orchestra, followed by her soloist debuts at the Tanglewood Music Festival and Bravo! Vail Music Festival in the summer. In April 2027, she is scheduled to make her Carnegie Hall debut with the Boston Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Andris Nelsons.
She is a recipient of the 52nd Ezoe Memorial Recruit Foundation Scholarship.
HIMARI performs on the 1732 Guarneri del Gesù "Ferni" (on generous loan from Chrisco Co., Ltd., CEO Akira Shimura).
Official Instagram: @himariviolin.official
Official YouTube Channel: @himariviolinofficial3104
Decca Classics Official Artist Page: deccaclassics.com
UNIVERSAL Classics Artist Page: universal-music.co.jp/himari
©Naruyasu Nabeshima
