Violin Recital with Keila Wakao

Born in 2006, Keila Wakao is from Chestnut Hill, MA, and began playing the violin at age 3. Former BSO concertmaster Joseph Silverstein accepted her as a student when she was 6 years old. From age 9, she studied with Donald Weilerstein. She worked with Itzhak Perlman and participated in the Perlman Music Program in summers 2018-2022. Currently, Keila is a second year undergraduate student of Miriam Fried at the New England Conservatory as a Starling Foundation Full Scholarship recipient.

Named a “VC Artist” by Violin Channel, Keila Wakao has performed as soloist and in recital throughout the United States, Japan, Germany, Singapore, and the United Kingdom in venues such as Symphony Hall and Jordan Hall (Boston), Cadogan Hall (London), Victoria Concert Hall (Singapore), and Carnegie Weill Recital Hall (New York City). She made her solo debut with an orchestra at age 9 and has since performed with ensembles including the Boston, Tokyo Phil, Baden-Baden, Richmond, Eugene, Chattanooga, Adelphi, Kalamazoo, Resound Collective, and Reading symphony orchestras and the Baltimore Chamber Orchestra. In 2017, Keila was invited to speak and perform at TEDxBoston.

Keila Wakao won 1st Prize in the 2021 Menuhin International Violin Competition Junior Division and was also awarded the Gold Medal and Bach Prize at the 2021 Stulberg International String Competition. In 2023, she was awarded the Aoyama Music Foundation Award in Japan for upcoming artists.