Keila Wakao made her Boston Symphony Orchestra debut at the BSO’s Season Opening Night Gala in September 2024 under the direction of Andris Nelsons. She was also invited to perform as the sole performer at the unveiling of Seiji Ozawa’s sculpture at Ozawa Hall in Tanglewood in July 2025, an event attended by members of Seiji Ozawa’s family, John Williams, and other distinguished guests. In November 2025, Keila premiered Bobby Ge’s Violin Concerto with Maestro David Allan Miller and the Albany Symphony. In January 2026, she will record her debut album with Octavia Records, scheduled for release later in 2026.

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Keila won the 2021 Menuhin Violin Competition Junior Division, the Composer Award (best interpretation of the commissioned piece), and the Gold Medal and Bach Prize at the 2021 Stulberg String Competition. In 2023, she received the Aoyama Music Foundation Award in Japan, and the Salon de Virtuosi Career Grant. Keila also received the 2024 Next Generation Distinguished Cultural Achievement Award from the Japan Society of Boston.

 

Born in 2006 in Chestnut Hill, MA, Keila began violin at age 3 and studied with Donald Weilerstein from age 9. Currently, she is studying at the New England Conservatory on a Starling Foundation Full Scholarship, with Miriam Fried. Keila has performed worldwide at venues such as Symphony Hall (Boston), Cadogan Hall (London), Victoria Concert Hall (Singapore), and Carnegie Weill Recital Hall (New York). She made her solo debut at age 9 and has performed with various orchestras, including the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Tokyo Philharmonic, Baden-Baden Philharmonic, Baltimore Chamber Orchestra, and the Richmond Symphony Orchestra. In 2017, Keila performed and spoke at TEDxBoston. She also participated in the Perlman Music Program in summers 2018-2022.

 

Keila plays on the Cremona 1690 “Theodor” Stradivarius violin, on loan from the Ryuji Ueno Foundation and Rare Violins In Consortium, Artists and Benefactors Collaborative.