Universal Music LLC (Head Office: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Fujikura Nao / hereinafter referred to as Universal Music) is pleased to announce that Decca Classics has announced an exclusive agreement with violinist Himari. Ahead of the release of their debut EP, advance streaming of Franz Waxman’s “Carmen Fantasy” and Amy Beach’s “Romance” will begin on Tuesday, March 18th.
Decca Classics has announced an exclusive agreement with Himari, a Japanese violinist who has been featured as a sensational teen in the world’s classical music world. At the age of 13, Himari, the youngest female artist in the history of a prestigious British label, is scheduled to release her debut EP on Friday, May 23rd. Prior to this, we have begun pre-release of two songs, Franz Waxman’s “Carmen Fantasy” and Amy Beach’s “Romance.”
Regarding this contract, Himari commented, “I am very pleased to be signed with Decca Classics. I hope you will enjoy my performance through recording!” Also, Dominique Fife, label director of Decca Classics, said, “Contracting with a debut artist is always an exciting moment, but Himari has a truly timeless talent. She is technically fearless, has a purity, musicality, and a temperament that resonates with every generation. Himari has a “voice” that only she can have. Decca Classics welcomed her into a part of her and is delighted to be able to bring her music to audiences around the world,” said Laura Monks and Tom Lewis, co-presidents of Decca Records, “Concert halls around the world are filled with surprises. Given Himari’s outstanding skills, musical talent, and most importantly, her youth, that talent is truly incredible.”
Himari has been experiencing performances by the Berlin Philharmonic and Vienna Philharmonic since he was a child, and dreams of a day he will perform with them through the orchestra he met at the Salzburg Music Festival, and is scheduled to perform Vieniawski’s “Violin Concerto No. 1” at a regular performance of the Berlin Philharmonic, which will be held from March 20th to 22nd. All three performances are already sold out, and the performance on the 22nd will be streamed live in the Digital Concert Hall.
Himari began playing the violin at the age of 3 and co-starred with a professional orchestra at the age of 6. In 2022, he enrolled at the Curtis Conservatory in Philadelphia, a prestigious American genius, and is currently studying under the well-known violinist Ida Kavafian. From the unique and fresh perspective that only young artists can see, he has captivated the world’s classical music world with his outstanding skill, playful interpretations, and imagination that expresses deep emotions. Her talent has already been recognized worldwide and has won the highest rankings in numerous competitions, including the Lipinski Vienjawski International Violin Competition and the Artur Grumiaud International Competition. In December 2024, he appeared in “New Years Eve Celebration” with the Philadelphia Orchestra conducted by Marine Allsop. The same program will also be performing at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra conducted by Allsop and the Lavinia Music Festival.
Himari’s Franz Waxman: Carmen Fantasy
Released on Tuesday, March 18th, 2025
Violin: Himari / Piano: Chelsea One
Recorded: January 2025, Dimenna Center, Carrie Hall, New York
https://himari.lnk.to/Carmen_Fantasy
■Himari (violinist) profile
Born in Japan in 2011, he was 13 years old.
HIMARI is known as a “one talent in a generation,” and has been featured as a sensational teen in the world’s classical music world for her outstanding technique and deep expression that is born from her imaginative interpretations.
In March 2025, he made his debut as the youngest soloist in Asia at a regular performance by the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra.
He began playing the violin at the age of three, and studied under Harada Koichiro and Oguri Machie. At the age of six, he co-starred with a professional orchestra, and in 2022 he joined the famous Curtis Music Center in Philadelphia.
He is currently studying under the famous teacher Aida Kavafian, who has trained global soloists, and is further deepening his musical expression.
In the past, he has won top place in numerous competitions, including the Lipinski Vienjawski International Violin Competition (Grand Prix), the Artur Grumiaud International Competition, the Postacchini International Competition, and the Scherkunchik International Competition.
In 2019, he was the youngest to perform at the Salzburg Music Festival, and in 2023 he won the Public Award for “Mini Violini 2023” in Montreal. At a young age, he has performed on major stages both domestically and internationally, and has received high praise in many places.
He has performed with the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra, the Russian National Philharmonic Orchestra, the Kiev National Philharmonic Orchestra, the NHK Symphony Orchestra, the Yomiuri Japanese Symphony Orchestra, the New Japan Philharmonic Orchestra, the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra, the Japanese Philharmonic Orchestra, the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, the Japanese Century Symphony Orchestra, the Kanagawa Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Group Symphony Orchestra.
Conductors include Marine Alsop, Kelly-Lin Wilson, Vladimir Spivakov, Nikolai Jazhula, Jean-Christop Spinozi, Aki Kazuyoshi, Hirokami Junichi, Shimotsuke Yaya, Hara Keitarou, Umeda Toshiaki, Kobayashi Kenichiro, Otomo Naoto, Kobayashi Ryo, Yoko Kana, and Kobayashi Shigenori.
Since 2024, he has been affiliated with the German music agency KD SCHMID and has begun full-scale international activities. In December, at the age of 13, he will be holding a nationwide recital tour “HIMARI Violin Recital Tour 2024” (Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, Fukuoka).
In addition, he performed with major domestic orchestras, and was held in 2025 at the Lavinia Music Festival.
He was invited by the London Philharmonic Orchestra, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, and Swiss Romande Orchestra, and will appear in regular performances by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in February 2026.
In March 2025, he signed with Mei Decca Classics and announced his first song release on the same day. This will further expand the range of performance activities and take on new possibilities for expression.
He is a 52nd scholarship student of the Ezoe Memorial Recruit Foundation. The instruments used were 1717 Stradivarian “Hamma” (loaned from Maezawa Yusaku), and the instruments used were loaned from the Souji Collection.
■Link
Himari
Official Website https://himari-info.com
Official Instagram https://www.instagram.com/himariviolin.official/
Official YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnXYQy7XqRgmD5orp7_nD7g
Universal Music Official Page https://www.universal-music.co.jp/himari/
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