Kumi Shimizu began her violin lessons at the tender age of three. She earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Tokyo University of the Arts under the guidance of Professors Kazuki Sawa, Eszter Perenyi, and Herwig Zack, winning the prestigious Doseikai Prize upon graduation.

In 2018, Shimizu moved to London to further her studies, obtaining a master’s degree from the Royal Academy of Music. During her time in London, she performed with the London Symphony Orchestra and received the Harold Craxton Prize and the Winifred Small Prize in 2019.

Her talent was further recognized in 2021 when she won prizes at both the 3rd Ysaÿe International Violin Competition and the 2nd Viktor Tretyakov International Violin Competition.

As a soloist, Shimizu has performed an extensive repertoire, including works by Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, Sibelius, Mendelssohn, Saint-Saëns, and Bach. She has been a regular performer at chamber music concerts and festivals in Denmark, Japan, England, Italy, and other countries.

In 2019, she was appointed deputy concertmaster of the Royal Danish Orchestra. She served as concertmistress during the 2021/22 and 2022/23 seasons and was invited as a guest substitute concertmaster at the Royal Opera House Orchestra in Covent Garden in 2022. 

I STAGE

• J.S. Bach – Grave and Fugue from Violin Sonata No. 2 in A minor, BWV 1003
• E. Ysaÿe – Sonata for solo violin No. 3  in D minor, Op. 27
• N. Paganini – Caprice Op. 1 No. 11

II STAGE

• L. van Beethoven – Sonata for violin and piano in G minor, No.10 Op. 96
• K. Lipiński – Polonaise in A major, Op. 9 No. 1
• P. Tchaikovsky – Valse Scherzo, Op. 34

III STAGE

• L. van Beethoven – Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 61