RINO YOSHIMOTO

22-year-old Japanese violinist Rino Yoshimoto has captivated audiences around the world. She has performed in the world’s most prestigious halls including Carnegie Hall and the Musikverein Vienna golden hall. Her powerful command of standard violin literature has led her on concerto and recital tours across Europe. She was invited on a tour to Spain with the Vienna Chamber Orchestra as a soloist and it was received with critical acclaim. She has performed many solo recitals and well as numerous orchestral projects in Japan, Austria, Bulgaria, Greece, the USA, Russia, France, Belgium and Italy. Known for her phenomenal musicianship, Ms. Yoshimoto is a prize winner of numerous international violin competitions, including the 16th Padova International Music Competition "Premio Citta Di Padova", the 10th Fritz Kreisler International Violin Competition 2022 (2nd place), and the 2020 Shanghai Isaac Stern international violin competition.   She is currently playing on the Stradivarius Japanese music foundation. « Muntz » 1736, generously loaned from the Ms. Yoshimoto is currently studying at Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel and Royal Conservatory of Brussels in the class of Prof. Augustin Dumay and Prof.Yossif Ivanov. She has studied with Masako Kida, Gerald Poulet, Mauro Iurato, Yoshio Unno, Michael Frischenschlager.

Was there a specific moment or experience that made you realize you wanted to become a musician?

I decided to become a musician when my first teacher told me about soloists who perform in front of orchestras.

When you perform, what do you hope to communicate or make the audience feel?
I wanted to be one of them. When I play, I always hope to share the music’s beauty and joy with the audience. 

If you had to present yourself by playing a single piece from the entire repertoire, which one would you choose, and why?

If I had to choose one piece to represent me, it would be Kreisler’s arrangement of the Irish folk song “Londonderry Air.” This piece supported me through loneliness, sadness, and joy, especially after leaving Japan at 14 to study abroad with only my mother. Its haunting melody and Kreisler’s elegant harmonies have always given me strength.