Svetlanov Symphony Orchestra and Mark Gorenstein

With his superlative technique, insightful approach, and poetic imagination, Shunské Sato has established himself as one of the most noted violinists of the young generation, and continues to perform extensively throughout the world.

In addition to regular appearances with all the major orchestras in Japan, he has worked with leading European orchestras including the Deutsche Oper Berlin, Bavarian Radio Philharmonic, Frankfurt Radio, NDR Radio Philharmonic Hannover, Hamburg Symphony, Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, Orchestre National de Montpellier and St. Petersburg Symphony. Since his American debut with the Philadelphia Orchestra at the age of 10, he has gone on to perform with the Baltimore Symphony, National Symphony, Minnesota Orchestra, Seattle Symphony, Rochester Philharmonic and the Syracuse Symphony.

Collaborations with many distinguished conductors have enriched Shunské's musical experience, particularly those with Kazuyoshi Akiyama, Gary Bertini, Myung-Whun Chung, Sergiu Comissiona, Valery Gerghiev, Christopher Hogwood, Hiroyuki Iwaki, Zdenek Macal, Ingo Metzmacher, Eiji Oue, Yuri Temirkanov, Yan Pascal Tortelier and David Zinman.

Apart from his engagements with orchestra, Shunské frequently gives recitals throughout the globe, particularly cherishing the genre’s repertoire. Such penchant has been reflected in his discography (hitherto all recorded by Nami Records, Japan) – Shunské launched his recording debut in 2005 with Eugène Ysaÿe's six sonatas for solo violin, which met with an uncommon unity of laudations from the Japanese press, including those from major newspapers as the Asahi, Yomiuri, and Mainichi. An album of short pieces, “Preludes”, followed in 2006 as an homage to the great violinists of the past, while a recording of Edvard Grieg’s complete sonatas for violin and piano, released in 2007, was awarded the Grand Prize of the Agency for Cultural Affairs of Japan.

Shunské’s repertoire extends from baroque to contemporary, and includes works by present-day composers Kaija Saariaho and Peteris Vasks, performances of which have met critical acclaim in Europe and America. Moreover, he has premiered and regularly performed works by Japanese composer Akira Nishimura in concerts presented by the Japan Society for Contemporary Music.

A recipient of numerous awards, he has most recently received the S and R Washington Award in 2006, and the Idemitsu Award in 2005.

Born in Tokyo in 1984, Shunské began the violin at the age of two, immigrating to America with his family two years later. Studying with Chin Kim before coming under the tutelage of Dorothy DeLay and Masao Kawasaki at the Juilliard School of New York, he then pursued his studies with Jaime Laredo at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, and most recently with Gérard Poulet. He currently resides in Paris, France.

A long-term recipient of instruments generously provided by the Nippon Music Foundation, Shunské currently plays a violin by Stephan von Baehr, made in Paris in 2007.