Profile
©武藤章
MATSUYAMA Saeka(Japan)
Jury Member, Violin Section
1st Prizewinner of the 2nd SIMC Violin Section
“The program succeeded in highlighting new talent…Saeka Matsuyama as a lyrical soloist in the last movement of Mozart’s Fifth Violin Concerto”. – The New York Times
Saeka Matsuyama combines flawless technique with breathtaking artistry to create an inspiring, introspective, and invigorating musical experience. She is a violinist who remains in high demand as an orchestral soloist, recitalist, and chamber musician.
The recipient of numerous international competition and audition awards, Ms. Matsuyama’s past accolades include: 2005 Queen Elizabeth International Violin Competition (4th prize), 2004 Sendai International Violin Competition (1st prize and audience prize), among others.
Highlights of Saeka Matsuyama’s past seasons include appearances with the leading orchestras of Japan: Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra, New Japan Philharmonic, Tokyo Philharmonic, Tokyo Symphony, Osaka Philharmonic, Kyoto Symphony, Nagoya Philharmonic, and Sendai Philharmonic Orchestra, among others. Forming a duo with pianist Mr. Yuya Tsuda, she has been active in giving concerts across Japan including in such cities as Tokyo, Osaka and Sendai. She has released 4 CDs from Nami Records, Co., Ltd.
Her successful activities overseas include recitals and concerts with major orchestras in USA, Germany and Belgium. On April 30, 2007, she was invited to present at ‘Goodbye Alice’ to commemorate Alice Tully Hall’s renovation to perform with many renowned artists. In 2008, she appeared at the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia as her Philadelphia Debut, presenting the Brahms Double Concerto. She has participated in such internationally-renown summer festivals as the Marlboro Music Festival, the Schleswig-Holstein Music Academy (during which time she performed as concertmaster), the Tanglewood Music Festival, etc.
Born in 1980 in Nishinomiya City, Hyogo, Saeka Matsuyama started her violin studies at age two. She moved to New York from Japan at the age of nine, at which time she matriculated at Juilliard’s Pre-College program under the tutelage of Dorothy DeLay and Robert Chen. She earned a Bachelor, a Master of Music and an Artist Diploma degree from The Juilliard School, where she studied with Michael Gilbert, Ronald Copes and Glenn Dicterow.