Violinist Keila Wakao Wins Boston Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition

Wakao will appear with the BSO in a concert on October 28, where she will perform the second movement of Prokofiev's Violin Concerto No. 2

22 young players applied for the Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO) concerto competition, with 9 proceeding to the final round. Young violinist Keila Wakao's winning performance was of Prokofiev's Violin Concerto No. 2 in G minor.

As part of her prize, Wakao will receive $1,000 cash — and will also perform the second movement of the concerto with the BSO, in a concert at Boston's Symphony Hall on October 28, 2023.

Wakao, who is in her final year at Walnut Hill School for the Arts, currently studies with Donald Weilerstein and Soovin Kim at the New England Conservatory of Music. She won First Prize and the Junior Composer Award in the 2021 Menuhin International Violin Competition and was also the winner of the Stulberg International String Competition in 2021.

"I am so grateful to have won the Boston Symphony Concerto Competition, as it has always been a lifelong dream to perform with the BSO in Symphony Hall," Wakao said. "I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to my teachers, family, and friends for their unwavering support. Most importantly, I would like to acknowledge the incredible dedication and hard work of all the competitors who participated."

"The Boston Symphony is delighted to congratulate Keila Wakao on winning first prize in our Concerto Competition," said BSO violinist and jury member Catherine French. "There were many wonderful young artists who participated in this year’s Competition, and it was thrilling to hear them all."

"Keila’s radiant performance of Prokofiev's Violin Concerto No. 2 will be a highlight of our annual Youth Concert week, which begins Wednesday, October 25th. Thank you so much to Ms. Wakao and all the other accomplished young musicians who participated in our competition and played so beautifully."