Biography
Violin
Sayaka Shoji
Born in Tokyo, Sayaka Shoji moved to Siena, Italy, when she was three. Since winning first prize at the Paganini Competition in 1999, she has appeared with the Israel Philharmonic, Cleveland Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic, New York Philharmonic, London Symphony, Philharmonia Orchestra, Berlin Philharmonic, Orchestra dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, Czech Philharmonic, Vienna Symphony, Mariinsky Orchestra, and NHK Symphony. Recent highlights include appearances with the Frankfurt Radio Symphony, Hamburg Symphony, BBC Symphony, and a tour with the Modigliani Quartet. She makes her San Francisco Symphony debut with this program, having previously appeared on the Great Performers Series with the Saint Petersburg Philharmonic in 2017.
As a prolific recording artist, Shoji has released 11 albums on Deutsche Grammophon including Prokofiev, Sibelius, and Beethoven violin concertos, and a recital album with Menahem Presseler. In 2022, she released a new album of Mozart sonatas with Gianluca Casiocli, following her previous album of the complete Beethoven sonatas. Alongside her concert and recording activities, Shoji has created an experimental visual music project, Synesthesia, and explored oil painting and video art.
Shoji won the Mainichi Art Award in 2016, one of Japan’s most prestigious awards, presented to those who have had a significant influence on the arts. In 2012, she was named one of the 100 most influential people for the future of Japan by Nikkei Business. She plays the “Recamier” Stradivarius, ca.1729, kindly loaned to her by Ueno Fine Chemicals Industry Ltd.
As a prolific recording artist, Shoji has released 11 albums on Deutsche Grammophon including Prokofiev, Sibelius, and Beethoven violin concertos, and a recital album with Menahem Presseler. In 2022, she released a new album of Mozart sonatas with Gianluca Casiocli, following her previous album of the complete Beethoven sonatas. Alongside her concert and recording activities, Shoji has created an experimental visual music project, Synesthesia, and explored oil painting and video art.
Shoji won the Mainichi Art Award in 2016, one of Japan’s most prestigious awards, presented to those who have had a significant influence on the arts. In 2012, she was named one of the 100 most influential people for the future of Japan by Nikkei Business. She plays the “Recamier” Stradivarius, ca.1729, kindly loaned to her by Ueno Fine Chemicals Industry Ltd.
