Biography  

3rd Prize and the Haydn Prize winner of the 2025 Banff International String quartet Competition, The Quartet KAIRI is a versatile ensemble currently based in Salzburg and first established in Tokyo in 2015.

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Their artistic vision is anchored in the belief that traditional values can

coexist with modernism and adaptability to various and ever-changing

stylistic approaches.

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Their commitment to music and a constant drive for discovery and

innovation are the main pillars of their artistry.

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They began their musical journey as an ensemble at the Tokyo College of

Music under the mentorship of Professor Saiko Azuma. In winter of 2023,

Chinese violist Jiliang Shi joined the Quartet consisting of Taiga Sasaki

(violin), Yu Mita (violin),and Hotaka Sakai (cello). Ever since then they

have been studying under Professor Rainer Schmidt (Hagen Quartet) and

Professor Cibrán Sierra Vázquez (Quiroga Quartet) at the Mozarteum

University.

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Apart from performing in traditional setting, they participated in numerous

innovative projects such as collaborations with ballet and jazz dancers, as

well as performing to a silent film.

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In 2024, the Quartet KAIRI was invited to collaborate with the Salzburg

Marionette Theatre during the “Mozartwoche” Music Festival.

Additionally they were also part of the Fuji Mountain Music Festival in

2019, where they shared the stage with a renowned clarinettist Peter

Schmidl (Former Principal Clarinetist of the Vienna Philharmoniker).

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In 2017, the Quartet KAIRI received second prize (first prize not awarded)

at the Japan Classical Music Competition in Tokyo.

In 2024, they were also awarded the 1st prize at the Premio Annarosa

Taddei International Competition in Rome.

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Since 2023, the ensamble have been generously supported by the

Meigakudō Music Foundation in Japan.