
Kentaro KONISHI
Born in Tokyo in 2001.
He began studying the violin at the age of four, receiving his first instruction from his grandfather, a violin teacher.
Has won First Prize at the 13th Vienna Beethoven International Violin Competition and the 2nd Nałęczów International Violin Competition (Poland).
He also received Second Prize at both the Tokyo Competition and the National Finals (Elementary School Division) of the 67th All Japan Student Music Competition, and Second Prize at the Tokyo Competition (Junior High School Division) of the 70th edition of the same competition.
Further achievements include First Prize at the Gifu International String Competition and the Japan Performers Competition, as well as the Grand Prize at the Kanagawa Music Competition.
In July 2018, he held a joint recital with Czech pianist Luděk Šabaka. In August 2022, he appeared as a soloist at the "MUZA Kawasaki Civic Symphony Festival 2022." In March 2023, he performed with Tibor Gyenge, first concertmaster of the Dresden State Opera. He has also participated in numerous music festivals both in Japan and abroad, including the Jiyugaoka Classical Music Festival, Kitakyushu International Music Festival, Kiso Music Festival, Tokyo Spring Music Festival, Toyama Chamber Music Festival, Singapore Violin Festival (Singapore), and Ost-West Musik Fest (Austria). In addition to performing as a member of the Malo Company, he has also appeared as guest concertmaster for the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra.
After graduating from the Tokyo University of the Arts Faculty of Music High School, He majored in violin at the Department of Instrumental Music, Faculty of Music. He has studied violin with Yoko Seto, Shoko Yasui, Takashi Shimizu, Fuminori Shinozaki, Ryo Mikami, Ami Oike, and Daniel Gaede, and viola with Toshihiko Ichitsubo. He is a fellow of the 7th and 8th terms of the Suntory Hall Chamber Music Academy, and a fellow of Project Q Chapters 20, 22, and 23.
Recipient of scholarships from the Yamaha Music Support Program (2019–2021), the Japan Federation of Musicians / Munetsugu Angel Fund Young Artists Support Program (2022, 2023), and the 34th and 35th Matsuo Academic Promotion Foundation.