First prize winner of such renowned competitions as the 6th Menuhin International Junior Violin Competition in England in 1993, the International Competition for Violinists in Cologne in 1994 (Daishin was the youngest participant), and, in 1996, the International Fritz Kreisler Violin Competition in Vienna and the Marguerite Long-Jacques Thibaud International Competition for Piano and Violin in Paris.

　Born in London in 1979, Daishin Kashimoto began studying violin in Tokyo at the age of three.In 1986, at the age of seven, he was accepted into the pre-college division of The Juilliard School as the youngest student and received the Edward John Noble Foundation Scholarship. In 1988, he gave his first recital and soloist appearance with the New York Symphonic Ensemble in New York. He moved to Lubeck, Germany in 1990 to accept an invitation to study under Zakhar Bron, a renowned teacher of such famed violinists as Vadim Repin and Maxim Vengerov.

　Daishin has performed with many internationally renowned orchestras, including the St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra under Mariss Jansons, the Moscow Radio Symphony Orchestra, the Vienna Symphony Orchestra, the Orchestra National de France, the Moscow Soloists and the English Symphony Orchestra. He has worked with Lorin Maazel, Seiji Ozawa, Myung-Whun Chung, Lord Yehudi Menuhin and Yuri Bashmet among many others.

　After graduating from Gymnasium in Germany and the Lubeck Musikhochshule, he is now continuing his studies at Staatliche Hochschule fur Musik in Freiburg.

　He has signed an international contract with Sony Classical NY and his debut CD is now being released internationally.

In March 1998, Daishin received the Education Minister' s Incentive Award for Young Artists from the Japanese Agency for Cultural Affairs.

　Daishin uses Stradivarius 1722 violin "Jupiter" on loan from the Nippon Music Foundation.

　

This violin was made in 1722 by Antonio Stradivari (1644-1737) of Cremona, Italy. It is in superb condition with original varnish still remaining plentiful all over the instrument. It has been in the hands of musicians who have appreciated its quality, including the world famous Japanese violinist, Midori. The Nippon Music Foundation purchased this instrument in May 1998.