Wakana, a native of Japan, began playing the French horn at the age of 13. Her passion for orchestral music and the thrill of performing solos have been her driving forces. She was awarded the gold prize at the Music & Stars Awards in December 2022 and received an honorable mention at the 15th K amateur music competition in Japan.
As a French horn player, Wakana is drawn to pieces that prominently feature the instrument. Her ultimate goal is to play the 3rd movement of Mahler Symphony No. 5 as a principal horn. While juggling her studies as a business student, she dedicates a minimum of four hours per week to practicing. She places equal emphasis on solo pieces and honing her fundamental skills, recognizing the French horn as one of the most challenging instruments to play worldwide (as per Guinness World Record).
Wakana’s musical education is enriched by her mentor, Tom Findlay, a student of the Royal College of Music, whose expressive style she admires greatly. Although she had initially aspired to become a professional horn player, family circumstances led her to abandon that dream. Nonetheless, her unrelenting passion for music motivates her to seek involvement in the field indefinitely.