Kiri’s passion for music began at age three when she started learning the violin and piano. She has garnered many accolades, including first prize in The Juilliard School violin competition and recognition from the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts. At Aspen Music Festival, she soloed with the Young Artist Orchestra and played under conductors such as James Conlon, James Levine, Michael Tilson Thomas, and David Zinman. Kiri has participated in master classes given by the Nash Ensemble, the Brentano Quartet, and Emanuel Ax, among others. She also served as concertmaster of the New York Youth Symphony for three consecutive years, performing at Carnegie Hall.
As a composer, she has had her orchestral pieces premiered by The Juilliard and Princeton University Orchestras, and works commissioned by the Gemini Youth Orchestra, New York, and Youth Orchestra of Central Jersey. Kiri has performed with many ensembles, including the Oregon Symphony, San Jose Chamber Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, Princeton Symphony Orchestra, and Opera New Jersey.
Kiri graduated with high honors from Princeton University in music theory/composition, Japanese, and environmental studies. As an educator and arts administrator, she has worked for Education Through Music in New York City, New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, Princeton Symphony Orchestra as its General Manager and Artistic Administrator, and Portland Youth Philharmonic where she was Executive Director. From 2009-2015, she served on the board of Music for Autism. Currently, Kiri is the Executive Director of California Youth Symphony, and a violinist in Symphony San Jose, Opera San Jose, and Santa Cruz Symphony. In her spare time, she enjoys interviewing high school seniors as part of Princeton University’s Alumni Schools Committee.
