Wakana Kimura

Wakana Kimura was born in Takarazuka, Japan, in 2001 and began playing the violin at the age of four. Since 2021, she has been studying with Prof. Lothar Strauß and, since 2022, chamber music with Prof. Stefan Mendl at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna (mdw). 

She has received prizes at numerous international competitions, including Third Prize at the George Enescu International Competition, the Grand Prize "Premio Andrea Postacchini" at the International Violin Competition Andrea Postacchini, Second Prize at the Ion Voicu International Violin Competition, First Prize at the Leonid Kogan International Competition, First Prize at the Victoria BCN Violin Competition, and Second Prize at the 41st International Violin Competition "Premio Rodolfo Lipizer". 

In 2025, she appeared on the Japanese television program Recital Passio and performed as a soloist with the WDR Sinfonieorchester under Cristian Măcelaru at the George Enescu Festival. She has collaborated with various orchestras and given recitals throughout Europe — particularly in Austria, Germany, Italy, and Romania — as well as in her native Japan.