Lev Sakae Taira

Lev Sakae Taira is a 16-year-old violinist and vocalist (baritone) from Los Angeles. He began violin studies at age 4 with Gherman Markosian and currently studies violin at the Colburn School with Sam Fischer. He began his vocal training with Michael Chipman at the Colburn School and currently studies with Derrick Lawrence. During the summers Lev has attended the Interlochen Arts Camp, Meadowmount School of Music, and Bowdoin International Music Festival where he has studied with professors including Ayano Ninomiya, Mikhail Kopelman, and Ann Setzer. He has performed in masterclasses for Michael Barenboim, Lisa Sylvester, Jane Dutton, Sophie Tang, and Geneva Lewis. Violin accolades include prizes in the PYSO Concerto Competition, Interlochen Intermediate Age Division Concerto Competition, SMC Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition, and Bellagrande International Music Competition. In addition, Lev was named a 2025 National YoungArts award winner in Classical Music/Violin. Vocal awards include second prize in the Schmidt Southern California Regional Competition and semifinalist in the CS Vocal Competition.