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.  

From 2013 to 2023 Shunske was artistic leader and concertmaster of the Netherlands Bach Society. During his tenure he directed numerous works by J.S. Bach, including large-scale works such as St. Matthew Passion and Christmas Oratorio, as well as Passion music by Graun, Graupner and Kaiser. His many recordings of cantatas and instrumental works by Bach can be seen on www.youtube.com/bach.

Other notable accomplishments include his own instrumentation of Bach’s Art of Fugue, collaborating with Opera2Day on an opera interweaving contemporary music and compositions by Bach, and video recordings of Bach’s Musical Offering which visually render the compositional structures using special effects.

This incredible musical composition is being brought to life in a way that I am awestruck on all levels.

YouTube.com/Bach

BWV 1006

Since 2011 Shunske has worked closely with Concerto Köln as soloist, conductor and concertmaster. Known for their interpretations of Baroque and Classical works, Concerto Köln has been making noteworthy strides into the realm of the 19th century: their recent undertakings include Wagner’s Ring of the Nibelung with Kent Nagano, The Dresdner Festspielorchester and the Dresdner Musikfestspiele. , Bruckner Symphonies, Paganini, Elgar and Tchaikovsky. With his experience in this repertoire and its performance practices, Shunske has been called upon as advisor, collaborator and soloist

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 to guest direct ensembles such as the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra, the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra, the Residentie Orkest in the Hague, the Stavanger Symphony Orchestra (Norway), Philharmonia Baroque (USA) and Orquestra Barocca de Sevilla. Upcoming highlights include performances with the Dutch Radio Philharmonic Orchestra and a recital tour celebrating the release of Bee1h0ven, Shunske’s recording of Beethovens complete ViolinSonatas with Shuann Chai.

Shunske Sato ROCKS.

YouTube.com/Bach

BWV 1060r

Among the conductors with whom Shunske has collaborated both as soloist and concertmaster are Ivor Bolton, Richard Egarr, Philippe Herreweghe, Christopher Hogwood, René Jacobs, Kent Nagano and Hidemi Suzuki. 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 Philharmonic Orchestra.

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

YouTube.com/Bach

BWV 1002

Shunske 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. Shunske’s conducting mentors include Jos van Veldhoven, Hernán Schvartzman and René Gulikers.

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

Born in Tokyo
(1984)
Started playing the violin
at age 2
Immigrated to the US
at age 4
Married to Shuann Chai and
father of their lovely daughter
Lives in The Hague,
The Netherlands
Is also interested in language, history,
interior design, cooking and eating
Born in Tokyo
(1984)
Started playing the violin
at age 2
Immigrated to the US
at age 4
Married to Shuann Chai and
father of their lovely daughter
Lives in The Hague,
The Netherlands
Is also interested in language, history,
interior design, cooking and eating

Contact

direct inquiries

Personal assistant &
artist manager
Marloes Biermans