Six Questions with Violinist VC Artist Risa Hokamura

Get to know Risa before her NY debut at the Kaufman Music Center's Merkin Hall on February 8, 2023

VC Artist Japanese violinist Risa Hokamura is quickly building an international reputation as a young virtuoso of outstanding potential.

Risa will make her New York debut at Merkin Concert Hall on February 8, 2023, which will be streamed LIVE on The Violin Channel. In preparation for this concert, YCA talked with Risa to get her advice for young artists, learn what she does outside of practice time, and more!

A student at Manhattan School of Music under the tutelage of Koichiro Harada and Lucie Robert, Risa was awarded 2nd prize at the 10th Quadrennial International Violin Competition of Indianapolis and was a 1st prize recipient at the 2018 Young Concert Artists International Auditions, in New York.

Hokamura has gone on to perform with many orchestras such as the East Coast Chamber Orchestra, Muncie Symphony Orchestra, Greensboro Symphony Orchestra, Kanagawa Philharmonic Orchestra, New Japan Philharmonic Orchestra, Tokyo Philharmonic, Kansai Philharmonic Orchestra, Tokyo Symphony Orchestra, and the Sapporo Symphony Orchestra.

Also the recipient of the Tannery Pond Concerts Prize, The Ruth Laredo Memorial Prize, and The Ronald A. Asherson Prize, she has previously studied at the Artist Diploma program of the Tokyo College of Music as an honorary scholarship student under the tutelage of Koichiro Harada, Mayuko Kamio, and Machie Oguri.