Biography

Mio Imai, born in 2010, studies violin with Midori and Kimberly Fisher. She is also coached by Grammy-nominated pianist, Mark Livshits. 

Mio made her first appearance as a soloist at age of nine. She has performed as a soloist with multiple orchestras, including Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Nashville Symphony Orchestra, Allentown Symphony Orchestra, Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra, Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra, Vancouver Symphony Orchestra USA, FVG Orchestra, Accademia d’Archi Arrigoni Orchestra, and SEEN Orchestra. She has also performed at music festivals such as Mendocino Music Festival (US) and Sagra Musicale Umbra festival (Italy). 

Mio won the 1st prize at recent international competitions, such as Arthur Grumiaux International Violin Competition (Belgium), Stulberg International String Competition (US), International Young Artist Concerto Competition (US), Piccolo Violino Magico International Competition (Italy), Nashville Symphony Curb Concerto Competition (US), and MTNA National Competition (US). Mio is also a former major prize winner at Leonid Kogan International Competition (Belgium), Ronald Sachs International Music Competition (US), Johansen International Competition (US), Elizabeth Loker International Concerto Competition (US), and Chicago Violin International Competition (US). 

She has played in Masterclasses for renowned violinists and string quartets, including James Ehnes, Augustin Hadelich, Ida Kavafian, Robin Wilson, Kirill Troussov, Karen Aroutiounian, Takacs Quartet, Paul Kantor, and Sibbi Bernhardsson.

Mio plays a Vincenzo Sannino violin and Francois Nicolas Voirin bow on loan from the Takeuchi Collection through the Nippon Violin Society program.