I am a concert violinist.

I study with Mr. Ken Hamao at the Harvard University Music Department.

Watch some of my favorite recordings of my playing!

• Fantasy for Solo Violin by Ellen Taaffe Zwilich
• Fiddle Dance Suite: As the Wind Goes by Wynton Marsalis (commissioned by Nicola Benedetti)
• Partita no. 3 in E Major: Gigue by Johann Sebastian Bach
• Tzigane by Maurice Ravel

I have won awards at the local and international level.

• 1st Prize ENKOR International Music Competition (2020)
• 1st Prize KAMSA Competition (2020)
• Finalist Pacific Music Society Competition (2020)
• 3rd Prize Galante Prize Competition (2020)
• 1st Prize Great Composers International Competition (2019)
• 1st Prize US International Music Competition (2019)
• 2nd Prize ENKOR International Music Competition (2019)
• 2nd Prize Burlingame Music Competition (2019)
• 3rd Prize Galante Prize Competition (2019)
• 2nd Prize US Open Music Competition (2018)
• Finalist Classics Alive Young Artist Audition (2017)
• 1st Prize 2016 Pacific Music Society Music Competition (2016)

I studied at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music (SFCM) Pre-College for eight years.

• Vice President and founding member of Student Council (2019-20)
• Organized virtual benefit concert and raised over $1,600 for music education in San Francisco public schools
• Featured Performer at Pre-college Graduation (2020)
• Summer Showcase Concert (2019)
• Winter Showcase Concert (2019)
• Concertmaster of Contemporary Music Ensemble (2020)
• Chamber Music Award (2020)
• Performance Certificate (2020)

Here are the pieces I’m currently working on:

• Violin Concerto in D major, op. 77 by Johannes Brahms
• Violin Concerto in D major, op. 35 by Erich Korngold
• Chaconne from Partita no. 2 in D minor, BWV 1004 by J.S. Bach

I am an orchestral violinist who has toured internationally.

• I have been accepted to prestigious summer programs including the Aspen Summer Music Festival, Music@Menlo, National Youth Orchestra of the USA, Vivace International Music Festival, and Meadowmount School of Music.
• 1 season with the Harvard Radcliffe Orchestra
• 3 consecutive seasons with the National Youth Orchestra program
  • 1st violinist, NYO-USA 2020 with Maestro Jim Ross. Listen to NYO-USA 2020’s recording of Umoja by Valerie Coleman
  • Associate Concertmaster, NYO2 2019 New York-Miami Tour with Maestro Carlos Miguel Prieto and soloists Gabriela Montero and Paquito D’Rivera
  • 1st violinist, NYO2 2018 New York-Miami Tour with Maestro Carlos Miguel Prieto and soloist Gil Shaham
• 4 seasons with San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra
  • 2019 European Tour featuring Grammy Award winning soloist Nicola Benedetti
  • 1st violinist
  • Youngest member

I am a chamber musician who has won awards with different ensembles.

• San Francisco Conservatory of Music Chamber Music Award (2020)
• 3rd Prize Galante Prize Competition (2020)
• 3rd Prize Galante Prize Competition (2019) Here are some of my past chamber performances:
• Haydn String Quartet op. 20 no. 4, Allegro di molto
• Beethoven String Quartet op. 95 no. 11, Allegro con brio
• Beethoven Piano Trio op. 1 no, 2, Finale: Presto

I’ve had some very memorable performances.

• Masterclasses with Ida Kavafian, Xiao-Dong Wang, and Axel Strauss at Vivace International Music Festival (2020)
• Performance with Violins of Hope (2020)
• Concerts at the Presidio (2019)
• Carnegie Hall debut (2018)
• Debuts at Vienna Musikverein, Berlin Philharmonie, and Hamburg Elbphilharmonie (2019)
• Solo debut with orchestra at Sewanee Summer Music Festival (2017)
• Live performance for KPFA 94.9 podcast “Ideas and Ideals” with Larry Bensky (2019)
• Six consecutive years performing at Junior Bach Festival (2014-2019)

I am a cover artist recording original arrangements of my favorite songs.

Songs I’ve covered:

• 100 gecs - ringtone (Remix) [feat. Charli XCX, Rico Nasty, Kero Kero Bonito]
• Billie Eilish - everything i wanted
• Ariana Grande - imagine
• Juice WRLD - Lucid Dreams
• Lil Tecca - Ransom

I also give private lessons to beginning violin students.

If you would like to learn from me, please email matt.sakiyama@gmail.com