HIMARI’s Recent Activities

Violinist

Born in Japan in 2011, age 14.

　HIMARI, hailed as “a once-in-a-generation talent,” has been introduced to the world of classical music as a “sensational teenager” thanks to her outstanding technique, imaginative interpretations, and profound expressiveness.

　In March 2025, she made her debut as the youngest soloist in three regular performances by the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra.

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

　In the past, she has won top prizes in numerous competitions, including the Lipiński-Wieniawski International Violin Competition (Special Grand Prix), the Arthur Grumiaux International Competition, the Postacchini International Competition, and the Nutcracker International Television Contest for Young Musicians.

　In 2019, she became the youngest performer to appear at the Salzburg Festival. In 2023, she was awarded the “Public Award” at “Mini Violini 2023” in Montreal.　Despite her young age, she has performed on major stages both in Japan and internationally, receiving high praise for her artistry.

　She has performed with leading orchestras including the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra, the Russian National Philharmonic Orchestra, the National Philharmonic Society of Ukraine KYIV, the NHK Symphony Orchestra, the Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra, the New Japan Philharmonic, the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra, and the Japan Philharmonic Orchestra.　She has collaborated with renowned conductors such as Marin Alsop, Sebastian Weigle, Keri-Lynn Wilson, Vladimir Spivakov, Nicolai Dyadura, Jean-Christophe Spinosi, Kazuyoshi Akiyama, Junichi Hirokami, Tatsuya Shimono, Keitaro Harada, Toshiaki Umeda, Ken-Ichiro Kobayashi, Naoto Otomo, Kosuke Tsunoda, and Kanade Yokoyama.

　Since 2024, she has been represented by the German music agency KD SCHMID, marking the start of her full-fledged international career.

　In December, at the age of 13, she held a nationwide recital tour, “HIMARI Violin Recital Tour 2024” (Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, Fukuoka), which was a great success.

　While continuing to appear with major orchestras in Japan, she performed as a soloist on the Japan tour of the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande in the summer of 2025, earning widespread acclaim.　She also made a highly successful U.S. debut at the Ravinia Festival, performing with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Starting in the fall, she has been invited to perform with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, and the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, and is scheduled to appear with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in their subscription concert series in February 2026.

　In March 2025, she signed with the prestigious Decca Classics and announced the release of her debut recording on the same day.　This marked a new chapter in her career, expanding her artistic horizons and exploring new avenues of musical expression.

　Recipient of the 52nd scholarship from the Ezoe Memorial Recruit Foundation.