Nanae Iwata

Photographer: Shervin Lainez

Has played with The Knights since: 2008. 

Favorite Knights moment: motel party, amazing music making together. Oh! Germany tour, crazy late night dancing and accidentally melted chocolate on Ariana's butt. Definitely looked like something else. It was priceless.

Known for her "lovely playing" (The New York Times) and "expansive lyricism" (New York Concert Review), violinist Nanae Iwata has quickly established herself in versatile roles as a soloist, chamber musician, orchestral musician, and teacher. She has been a frequent performer all over the world making appearances in the United States, Japan, Germany, Austria, New Zealand, and Cuba. As a winner of the Artist International Competition, Ms. Iwata was awarded a debut recital at Carnegie Hall in 2008, which was lauded by critic Anthony Aibel as "riveting" and "exquisitely done."

From 2005-2010, by personal invitation of Seiji Ozawa, Ms. Iwata was a member of the Tokyo Opera no Mori Orchestra. Ms. Iwata is also currently a member of the internationally renowned Saito Kinen Orchestra, and the New York City-based ensemble, The Knights.

As a member of Juilliard's Historical Performance program, Ms. Iwata has collaborated with renowned artists such as William Christie, Jordi Savall, and Ton Koopman. Her playing in the Telemann Concerto Grosso in B-flat Major earned praise by critic Harry Rolnick, "The most delicious violin solos by concertmaster, Nanae Iwata, set the joyous sound for the whole piece." As a result of winning the Julliard Concerto Competition she will give her New York City concerto debut at Alice Tully Hall performing Bach's A minor Violin Concerto this coming March.

As an educator Ms. Iwata has held positions at the Sherwood Conservatory (Chicago), Lucy Moses School (NYC), and the Mozart Music Academy (Nagoya, Japan). She maintains a private studio committed to the development of all of her students. Last year she worked extensively with Philip Seymour Hoffman in preparation for his role in the movie, A Late Quartet.

Ms. Iwata earned both her Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees in violin performance from The Juilliard School where she was a full-scholarship student studying with Masao Kawasaki and Ronald Copes. She is currently pursuing her second Master of Music degree from the Juilliard School under the tutelage of Monica Huggett and Cynthia Roberts specializing in Baroque violin.