Inori Sakai, a Japanese-born 18-year-old, began her violin study at the age of 6 with Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra member Linda Fischer. She continued her studies with Hong-Guang Jia, an assistant concertmaster in the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, and has recently begun studying with Masao Kawasaki at the Juilliard School.

 

Inori served as concertmaster of the Pittsburgh Youth Symphony Orchestra under Maestro Lawrence Loh, a resident conductor of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, from 2010-2013. She has won several competitions in Pittsburgh, including the solo and concerto divisions of the Duquesne Young Artist National Competition, the Pittsburgh Concert Society Young Artist Competition in 2009, the Pittsburgh Chapter of the Pennsylvania Music Teachers' Association Competition in 2010, the Music Teachers' National Association State and Eastern Division strings competitions in 2011, the Pittsburgh Youth Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition in 2012, and the Pittsburgh Civic Orchestra Young Artist Competition in 2013.

In 2012 and 2013, Inori attended the Heifetz International Music Institute, where she played in a masterclass for Midori Goto. She most recently toured the United States as part of the National Youth Orchestra of the USA in the summer of 2014.

Inori has soloed with the Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra and the Pittsburgh Civic Orchestra, and she has previously had the privilege of playing with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra in 2009, 2012, and 2013.