Lisa Saito, a 12-year-old student at JLS Middle School in Palo Alto, started her musical education in Japan, beginning violin lessons at 3 and piano lessons at 4 years old. After moving to the San Francisco Bay Area in 2018, she now studies violin with Ms. Robin Sharp.
At age 10, Lisa made her orchestral debut with the Stanford Summer Symphony, conducted by Mr. Paul Phillip at the Bing Concert Hall. In addition, she won the 2022 and 2023 Golden State Youth Orchestra (GSYO) Concerto Competition, performing with GSYO Senior Symphony under Dr. Yun Song Tay in 2022.
Lisa joined the San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra at age 11 and is the youngest member. She was also the youngest member of the GSYO Senior Symphony and participated in the GSYO 60th anniversary concert as assistant concertmaster and joined their 2022 European Tour.
Lisa has won several violin awards, including 1st place in the 2023 KAMSA (Korean-American Music Supporters’ Association) Competition, 2nd place in the Pacific Musical Society & Foundation 2024, 2nd place in the Music International Grand Prix 2021, and 2nd place in the 2022 USOMC (the United States Open Music Competition) Instrumental Ensemble. Furthermore, she was a finalist for the San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra Concerto Competition 2024 and was chosen to perform at the Junior Bach Festivals from 2020 to 2024.
Lisa has attended numerous music programs including Music@Menlo, Heifetz Institute of Music, Tateuchi Institute of Music, and Santa Clara Chamber Music & Young Musicians Academy.