Yanagida, Kanako

Profile
Last updated:April 26, 2023
Profile
Began playing the violin at age 2 using the Suzuki Method. After graduating from the Music High School attached to the Faculty of Music, Tokyo University of the Arts, and enrolling in the Faculty of Music at the same university, she moved to the UK. She studied under György Pauk at the Royal Academy of Music, Faculty of Music, and its postgraduate program, graduating with top honors in 2016 after six years of study abroad. Previously, she won 1st prize in the elementary school division of the 55th Japan Student Music Competition and 2nd prize in the junior high school division of the same competition. She was a finalist in the 78th Music Competition of Japan. She received the 'Fukushima Prize' from the Fukushima Ikueikai in 2010. She also received numerous internal awards from the Royal Academy of Music. She returned to Japan permanently in 2017. In April, she held a successful homecoming recital at Ginza Oji Hall. She was selected as a fellow for the 5th term of the Suntory Chamber Music Academy (2018-2019), and in July 2021, she opened and became the representative of 'Higashi Ginza Violin School'. In September of the same year, she was temporarily loaned the Stradivarius 'Samazeuilh' by the Nippon Music Foundation and made a recording. In September 2022, she released her debut album 'Suono Eterno' on the OMF label. She held a release commemorative recital at Ginza Oji Hall. She received high praise from Ongaku no Tomo magazine, which lauded her 'transcendental technique, confident interpretation that leaves no note unaddressed, rigorously flawless structural power, and captivating expressiveness that makes each piece enchanting.' She has previously performed as a soloist with orchestras such as the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra, New Japan Philharmonic, and Tokyo New City Orchestra at venues including Suntory Hall, Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre, Tokyo Opera City Concert Hall, and Dukes Hall (London). http://kanakoyanagida.com/