about

Shunske Sato is a violinist, conductor, chamber musician, soloist and teacher – the diversity of his activities reflect his versatile and resourceful nature. Historically informed performance practice is central to his identity and allows him to inhabit the music and communicate with audiences in dramatic, revelatory ways.

He directs and appears as soloist with period ensembles as well as symphonic orchestras around the world, and has led several staged productions as well.

Resident in The Netherlands, Shunske has been a faculty member of the Amsterdam Conservatory since 2013, where he teaches historical violin. He also gives masterclasses and workshops with regularity. Sharing his knowledge with young musicians is very important to him, which is why he enjoyed the guest projects he did with, among others, the European Union Baroque Orchestra, Juilliard415 (New York) and the New World Symphony (Miami).

In 2013 Shunske became concertmaster of the Netherlands Bach Society, and was appointed its artistic leader from 2018 to 2023, during which time he directed numerous works by J.S. Bach and contemporaries. His many recordings of Bach's cantatas and instrumental works can be seen on www.youtube.com/bach.
Shunske has also worked closely with Concerto Köln since 2011 as soloist, conductor and concert master.

Thank you very much! You rediscover Beethoven and his music in a new and unexpected context. A magnificent performance!

YouTube.com/@Cobrarecords

Beethoven, Kreutzer Sonata

With his own PastForward Ensemble Shunske devotes himself to the realm of 19th century performance practice. The ensemble, formed by experienced European-based musicians, seeks to revisit the music of the 19th century and to bring it back to its emotion-driven roots.

I know no other violinist who is expressing the music that was written down by Bach, as Shunske Sato is capable of. He really brings it home to the soul of it all. That is such a gift.

YouTube.com/Bach

BWV 1005

Shunske is regularly invited as guest director by ensembles such as the Dutch Radio Philharmonic Orchestra, the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra, the Netherlands Chamber Orchestra, the Residentie Orkest (the Hague), the Stavanger Symphony Orchestra (Norway), Orfeo Orchestra (Hungary), Philharmonia Baroque (USA), Australian Brandenburg Orchestra and Orquestra Barocca de Sevilla. Upcoming highligts are his debut with Tafelmusik (Canada) and the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra.

Shunske forms a duo with pianist Shuann Chai – the two have given acclaimed concerts in Japan, Canada, and Europe. Their recording “BEE1H0VEN – The Complete Violin Sonatas” (2024) won the prestigious New RecordAcademy Award in Japan.

Shunske Sato ROCKS.

YouTube.com/Bach

BWV 1060r

Before historically informed practice became a part of Shunske’s activities, he performed extensively as soloist with renowned symphonic orchestras such as the Deutsche Oper Berlin, Bavarian Radio Philharmonic, Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, and the NHK Symphony Orchestra.

I love this guy's playing of Bach so much that I'm slowly becoming a Satomasochist

YouTube.com/Bach

BWV 1002

Born in Tokyo, Shunske immigrated to the US at the age of four. He studied at the Juilliard School in New York, Conservatoire National de Région in Paris and Hochschule für Musik und Theather in Munich. His teachers include Chin Kim, Dorothy DeLay, Masao Kawasaki, Gérard Poulet, Eiichi Chijiiwa and Mary Utiger.

For versions in other languages (German, Dutch, French) or abridged versions of this biography, please contact Marloes Biermans.