Keila Wakao, a young violinist, emerged as the winner of the Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO) concerto competition. Her winning performance featured the second movement of Prokofiev's Violin Concerto No. 2 in G minor. As part of her prize, she will not only receive a $1,000 cash award but also have the opportunity to perform with the BSO in a concert scheduled for October 28, 2023, at Boston's Symphony Hall.

Wakao, currently in her final year at the Walnut Hill School for the Arts, is under the tutelage of Donald Weilerstein and Soovin Kim at the New England Conservatory of Music. Her impressive musical achievements include winning the First Prize and Junior Composer Award at the 2021 Menuhin International Violin Competition and the Stulberg International String Competition in 2021.

Expressing her gratitude, Wakao shared, "I am incredibly thankful to have won the Boston Symphony Concerto Competition. Performing with the BSO in Symphony Hall has been a lifelong dream for me. I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to my teachers, family, and friends for their unwavering support. Most importantly, I want to recognize the remarkable dedication and hard work of all the competitors who participated."

Catherine French, a BSO violinist and jury member, expressed the orchestra's delight in congratulating Keila Wakao on her first prize win in the Concerto Competition. She noted the exceptional talent of all the young artists who participated in the competition and commended Wakao's radiant performance of Prokofiev's Violin Concerto No. 2. This performance will be a highlight of the annual Youth Concert week, beginning on October 25th, and she thanked Ms. Wakao and all the other accomplished young musicians who participated in the competition and showcased their beautiful talents.