Yayoi Numazawa became a member of The Philadelphia Orchestra in 1995. Born in Tokyo, Japan, she began studying violin at age five with Ami Watanabe. Ms. Numazawa won her first competition at the age of nine. As part of the prize she toured Asia as a soloist and gave a command performance for Imelda Marcos and an audience of several thousand in the Philippines. At age 12 Ms. Numazawa was invited to study with Ivan Galamian at Meadowmount in upstate New York. The following year she enrolled full time at the Curtis Institute of Music. There she studied with Mr. Galamian, Philadelphia Orchestra member Yumi Ninomiya Scott, Jamie Laredo, and Felix Galimir. During this time she began performing as a substitute with The Philadelphia Orchestra.
Ms. Numazawa made her solo debut with The Philadelphia Orchestra as a winner of its annual concerto competition for young artists, now known as the Philadelphia Orchestra Albert M. Greenfield Student Competition. She won the Greenfield Competition twice as a student at Curtis.
In addition to her position with the Orchestra Ms. Numazawa enjoys an active performance schedule that has included solo performances in Japan and the United States, as well as many chamber performances with members of the Orchestra. She is particularly proud of her students, whom she has coached in her private studio over the past 20 years. Many of them have gone on to study at such institutions as Curtis and the Juilliard School.
Photo by Jessica Griffin