Participant
Zachary Brandon
Violin
Accepted to the preliminary round of the 2026 Naumburg International Violin Competition.
Biography supplied for the 2026 competition.
Zachary Brandon, acclaimed for his profound artistry and captivating stage presence, is pursuing his Masters of Music at Yale School of Music studying with Augustin Hadelich. A laureate of the Elmar Oliveira International Violin Competition, he has also received top prizes at the International Stradivarius and Cooper International Violin Competitions, and has been a semifinalist at renowned events including the Menuhin, Sibelius,and Sendai International Violin Competitions. He has performed as a soloist across the United States and internationally in Italy, Finland, Norway, Switzerland, Japan, and the Virgin Islands, appearing in venues such as Carnegie Hall and Severance Hall. Zachary has collaborated with major orchestras and received mentorship from artists including Jean-Yves Thibaudet, Augustin Hadelich, and Maxim Vengerov. His past principal teachers included Jaime Laredo, Robert Lipsett, Steven Rose, Jan Mark Sloman, Almita and Roland Vamos, and Jessica Lee
Pianists
2026 International Violin Competition
Riko Higuma
, piano
Riko Higuma is a pianist and chamber musician whose performances have taken her throughout North and South America, Europe, Russia, and Japan. Her recital partners have included Ray Chen, Cho-Liang Lin, Steven Banks, Timothy Eddy, and Aaron Rosand. She has also worked with the New York Philharmonic in conductor and soloist rehearsals, including preparations for Lera Auerbach’s concerto with violinist Leonidas Kavakos and conductor Alan Gilbert.
A founding member of the Zodiac Trio, Higuma has performed with the ensemble at Ottawa Chamberfest, the Edinburgh Festival, Shanghai’s Oriental Performing Arts Center, and New York’s Merkin Hall. In 2012, the trio launched the Zodiac Music Academy & Festival in southern France, combining concerts with training for young musicians. Her own festival appearances include La Jolla SummerFest, Nagano-Aspen, and New Music on the Point.
Higuma won top prizes at the Jacob Flier and Santa Fe international piano competitions and appeared with the Fort Worth Symphony as a Van Cliburn Piano Institute Young Artist. She studied with Phillip Kawin at Manhattan School of Music and pursued chamber-music studies with the Ysaÿe Quartet in Paris.