日本ヴァイオリン

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Nippon Violin Society: Recipient Selected for the Loan of the Enrico Rocca 1914 “Ex-Aaron Rosand” Violin

2026.06.29

Ms. Yuika Matsuo

We are pleased to announce that Ms. Yuika Matsuo, a third-year student at Yohoku Junior High-school in Utsunomiya, has been selected as the recipient of the loan of the Enrico Rocca 1914 “Ex-Aaron Rosand” violin, for which applications opened this April.

This violin was made in 1914 by Enrico Rocca, one of the leading makers of Genoa. It is an instrument that reflects the mature style of Rocca’s final years, offering a rich resonance and excellent projection.

It is also known as a former instrument of Aaron Rosand, one of the most distinguished American violinists, and carries a history of having been played and passed down through the hands of performing artists.

We sincerely hope that Ms. Yuika Matsuo will continue to grow and flourish as an artist, opening new expressive possibilities together with this historic instrument.

-Recipient Profile
Yuika Matsuo

Yuika Matsuo began playing the violin at the age of three. She is currently a third-year student at Yoho Junior High School in Utsunomiya.

She currently studies with Hiroko Watanabe, and with Taro Uemura and Tomoko Urushihara at the Tokyo University of the Arts Junior Academy. She has also participated in the École Gérard Poulet and the Zakhar Bron Masterclass in Munetsugu Hall.

Her awards include Second Prize in the Junior High School Division of the 34th Japan Classical Music Competition, Second Prize in the Junior High School Division of the 26th Japan Performers’ Competition, First Prize at the 42nd, 44th, 48th, and 50th All Japan Junior Classical Music Competitions, Third Prize in the Junior High School Division of the Tokyo Competition of the 79th Student Music Concours of Japan and selection for the National Competition, and First Prize in the Junior High School Division S of the 20th Cecilia International Music Competition.

-Comment from Ms. Yuika Matsuo

I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to Mr. Mitsuru Igarashi for lending me the precious Enrico Rocca 1914 “Ex-Aaron Rosand”. I feel truly honored to have the opportunity to play and perform on this instrument.

I am also deeply grateful to everyone at the Nippon Violin Society for giving me this valuable opportunity to apply.

When I played the instrument for the first time, I was struck by its deep lower register, the warm and embracing sound of its middle range, and its brilliant upper register. This experience made me feel even more strongly that I wanted to perform with this violin.

I will continue to work hard to refine my technique and pursue a deeper sense of tone and expression, so that I can share my own music with audiences through this instrument.

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