Mako Ochiai
Violin
Blood type O Virgo
Age started playing the instrument
6 years old
Born in Otsu City, Shiga Prefecture. Entered the Tokyo University of the Arts as the top student in the Tokuji Munetsugu Special Scholarship Program. Graduated as valedictorian after receiving the Fukushima Award, the Acanthus Music Award and the Mitsubishi Jisho Award during her enrollment, and subsequently completed the master’s program at the university’s Graduate School of Music. Recognized with awards at numerous competitions, starting with second place in the 90th Music Competition of Japan and including second place in the 70th Student Music Concours of Japan (where she received the Suntory Foundation for the Arts Outstanding Instrument Special Award), first place in the 22nd Japan Player’s Competition, and the 24th Matsukata Hall Music Award. Also actively involved in chamber music, winning third place at the 75th ARD International Music Competition in Munich, second place at the 12th Osaka International Chamber Music Competition and the Quatuors à Bordeaux Festival Award. Served as Concert Mistress for the “Yutaka Sado and Superkids Orchestra,” an experience that led to her interest in chamber music and formation of the Quartet Fugue in 2023. Awarded first place in the Chamber Music Division of the 13th Akiyoshidai Music Competition, first place in the 5th Munetsugu Hall String Quartet Competition and the Baroque Saal Award of the 35th Aoyama Music Awards in Japan. Continues to broaden scope of performing activities beyond solo and chamber music work, including performing as a Guest Concertmaster and being invited to play in music festivals both within and outside Japan. 7th- and 8th-Term Fellow of the Suntory Hall Chamber Music Academy. Has thus far performed together with the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra, the Geidai Philharmonia Orchestra, the Kansai Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Central Aichi Symphony Orchestra, among others, as a soloist. Recipient of scholarships from the Rohm Music Foundation and the Tokiko Iwatani Foundation for Youth as well as grants from the Fukusima Foundation and the Matsuo Foundation for the Promotion of Science. Uses a bow on loan from The Collection WLK. Studied the violin under Asako Urushihara, Keiko Urushihara, Kei Shirai, and Masafumi Hori, and chamber music under Nobuko Yamazaki, Kazuki Sawa, Kikuei Ikeda, Kazuhide Isomura, and Koichiro Harada. Currently furthering her musical training through her enrollment in both the Soloist Program (State Performer Qualification Program) and the Master’s Program in Chamber Music at the Hanover University of Music, Drama and Media in Germany, where she is studying violin under Elisabeth Kufferath and chamber music under Oliver Wille.
