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The Japanese violinist, Sayako Kusaka, began her musical training in Tokyo. Her teachers were Takashi Shimizu at the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts in Japan, Eduard Schmieder at the Southern Methodist University in USA, and Rainer Kussmaul at the Freiburg Musikhochschule in Germany. She has received many prizes. In 2005 she was nominated “Best Musician Of The Year” by the Japan Music Critics Association. In 2009 she received the prestigious “Idemitsu Music Award”. She has won the numerous prizes in the prestigious international competitions such as 1st Prize at the International Yfrah-Neaman Competition (1995), 4th Prize at the Pablo de Sarasate Violin Competition (1995), 3rd Prize at Jean Sibelius Violin Competition in Finland (2000), 1st Prize at Japan Music Competition (2000). At the Premio Paganini Violin Competition in Italy (2001) she was awarded a silver medal and the Best Interpretation of Caprice Award. At the Rudolfo Lipizer Violin Competition in Italy (2002) she received the 1st Prize and also won seven special prizes - the maximum for which she was eligible - including awards for best performances of J.S. Bach, W.A. Mozart, contemporary compositions and more. In 1997 she received Aoyama Music Award, and in 2009 the Idemitsu Music Award.
Sayako Kusaka has soloed internationally with Konzerthausorchester Berlin, Ostrobothnian Chamber Orchestra, Kammerorchester Berlin, Kirov Staatsorchester, Bacau Philharmonic, Ecuador Baroque Chamber Orchestra, Tokyo Philharmonic, Tokyo Symphony, Osaka Philharmonic, Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra, New Japan Philharmonic, Japan Philharmonic Orchestra, Tokyo City Philharmonic, Century Orchestra Osaka (current Japan Century Symphony Orchestra), Kyoto Symphony Orchestra, New Japan Symphony, Kansai Philharmonic, Kyoto Philharmonic, Sendai Symphony, Meadows Symphony, and Kremerata Baltica at the Lockenhaus-Fest 2010. She appeared has in many music festivals such as Lockenhaus Chamber Music Festival and Davos Music Festival.
Sayako Kusaka has been first concert-master of the Konzerthausorchester Berlin since March 2008 (formerly Berliner Symphoniker), and in the same year, her first CD album "Sayako Kusaka Solo Violin" was released on Herb Classics. In 2009, Konzerthaus Chamber Orchestra Berlin was formed with Kusaka as its leader. In April 2013, she became the concert-master of Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra as well, and in July (of the same year), Konzerthaus Kammerorchester Berlin plans its first Japan Tour. Additionally, she is the concert-master of Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra in Japan since 2012. she has been a member of the Konzerthaus String Quartet Berlin since 2013 and the Streichtrio Berlin since 2016. She plays a violin by Joannes Franciscus Pressenda (Torino) from 1822. |
