Eishin Richard Hiraishi, viola
Meet Eishin
Eishin Richard Hiraishi (viola), 18, was born in Hiroshima, Japan. He began studying violin at the age of five and piano at the age of seven. In 2017, his family moved to Hannover, Germany and he entered the V-IFF program for gifted children at the Hanover University of Music, Drama, and Media (HMTMH). After moving to the United States in 2023, Eishin joined the Starling Preparatory Program at the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music (CCM). He is currently attending music courses at Ball State University, where he receives tuition in violin, viola, chamber music, and conducting.
Eishin has participated in numerous international music festivals and camps, including the Thurnauer Chamber Music Camp, the Chamber Music Dolomiti Festival in Italy, and the International Musical Artistry Festival in Goslar, Germany. He has also attended the Benefic Chamber Music Camp, Madeline Island Chamber Music, and the Chamber Music Intensive at the Cleveland Institute of Music. This past summer of 2025, Eishin toured Asia with Carnegie Hall’s NYO-USA, performing as principal violist under the baton of Gianandrea Noseda, with soloist, Ray Chen.
With his international background, Eishin has had the opportunity to take part in numerous competitions around the world, collecting many accolades. These competitions include the Marina Jashvili International Competition in the Republic of Georgia, the International Youth Competition “Flame” in Paris, the Jugendmusikanten-Wettstreit in Hamburg, the Indianapolis Youth Orchestra Young Artists Competition, the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra’s Maurer Young Musicians Competition, and the NKU Tri-State Rising Young Artists Competition. He was also a 2023 recipient of the prestigious Iwatani Tokiko “Foundation for Youth” Award.
Beyond performance, Eishin is committed to humanitarian work. Representing his Ukrainian/ Japanese heritage, in March 2022, he co-founded the project Let’s Play/Pray for Ukraine in Japan with pianist Jundai Okano. The project was featured in internationally broadcast documentaries by NHK World and Hiroshima TV and raised over $30,000 to support Ukrainian children, refugees, and medical treatment.
Receiving the Award will allow Eishin to purchase his own viola which will support him through college and into the professional field. The award funds will also support Eishin by allowing him to travel to upcoming college auditions and take consultation lessons with prospective teachers.
