Ms. Sumire Hirotsuru

Sumire Hirotsuru is a Japanese violinist, educator, and social entrepreneur whose career bridges classical music, cross-genre collaboration, and social impact.

Born in Oita, Japan, she began playing the violin at age three and has performed at major venues including Carnegie Hall, The Kennedy Center, and Suntory Hall. She has appeared with the Tokyo Philharmonic, Kyushu Symphony, and toured Japan with the Denmark Philharmonic in 2025. Her artistic interests span historically informed baroque performance with Bach Collegium Japan to Argentine tango, collaborating with leading tango musicians in the U.S. and Argentina. She has also performed with Yo-Yo Ma and the Silk Road Ensemble.

Beyond performance, Hirotsuru co-founded Summer in JAPAN, a program that has empowered young learners through creative education since 2013. She is a university professor, author, speaker, and TV commentator, and serves on Japan’s Central Council for Education. She holds a B.A. from Harvard University and an M.M. from The Juilliard School, where she received the William Schuman Prize.