プロフィール Biography
大阪府堺市出身、東京在住。
早稲田大学国際教養学部・北京大学国際関係学院を卒業したのち、東京大学公共政策大学院修了・北京大学国際関係学院（修士）を修了。大学・大学院を通してCAMPUS Asiaプログラムに参加し、ソウル大学校国際大学院にて半年交換留学。元早稲田大学マンドリン楽部、北京大学中国音楽学社（中阮・指揮）所属。
3歳よりピアノを始める。帝塚山学院中高ギターマンドリン部にてマンドリンを始める。指揮者として第33回中学校高等学校ギター・マンドリン音楽祭金賞、平成27年度全国高等学校ギター・マンドリン音楽コンクール優良賞受賞。アメリカ・ミシガン州East Jordan High Schoolにて1年間交換留学した際は、主にピアノで演奏活動を行った。
第50回ミス日本コンテスト2018にて「2018準ミス日本」を受賞。1年間の任期の中では、大阪万博誘致や在外公館でのレセプションなどに携わった。2020年よりミス日本同期でヴォーカル・ヴァイオリン・マンドリンの「アンサンブル三花謡」を結成。また、2023年より、山本治加、柏原麻衣、染川華子と共にマンドリンカルテット「Birth」を結成し、大阪・東京で演奏活動を行っている。2024年、ギターの建孝三氏とベトナムのサイゴン国際ギターフェスティバルにて演奏。同年12月、初のソロリサイタルを大阪・東京で開催。国内外、様々な楽器と演奏活動を行っている。
作曲活動も行っており、2025年に朝鮮音楽の要素を取り入れたマンドリンとピアノのための小作品「子守唄第1番」を発表。チャイニーズオーケストラ向けの曲をマンドリン向けに編曲する試みをしており、2027年に指揮者として李博禅作曲「楚頌」を東京で発表予定。
2023年第28回日本マンドリン独奏コンクール第3位受賞、2022年第12回ARTE国際マンドリンコンクール5位。
これまでにマンドリンを石村隆行氏、ピアノを破戸由紀美氏、指揮を佐々木宏氏、作曲を壺井一歩氏に師事。
Risa Shimono Biography
Risa Shimono, a Tokyo-based mandolinist, hails from Sakai City, Osaka, Japan. Her academic journey includes bachelor’s degrees from Waseda University and Peking University, followed by master’s degrees from the University of Tokyo and Peking University, where she studied public policy and international relations. As part of her academic pursuits, she also participated in an exchange program at Seoul National University.
Her musical journey began at the tender age of 3 when she embarked on learning the piano. During her time at Tezukayama Gakuin Junior & Senior High School Guitar Mandolin Club, she expanded her repertoire to include the mandolin. Under her direction as a conductor, the school achieved remarkable success, clinching the Gold Prize at the 33rd Junior High School and High School Guitar and Mandolin Music Festival, along with the Prize of Excellence at the All Japan High School Guitar and Mandolin Music Competition in 2015. During her one-year exchange program at East Jordan High School in Michigan, the U.S., she experienced many performing opportunities with piano.
In addition to her academic and musical achievements, Risa was recognized as the “2018 Miss Japan Runner-Up” at the 50th Miss Japan Contest. Subsequently, she collaborated with fellow 2018 Miss Japan award winners to form the ensemble “Ensemble Sankayô since 2020,” featuring vocal, violin, and mandolin performances, which have graced numerous events and gatherings. Furthermore, in 2023, she joined forces with Haruka Yamamoto, Mai Kashihara, and Hanako Somekawa to establish a mandolin quartet “Birth”, presenting concerts in Osaka and Tokyo. In 2024, she performed with guitarist Kozo Tate at the Saigon International Guitar Festival in Vietnam. In December of the same year, she gave her first solo recitals in Osaka and Tokyo. She continues to perform both in Japan and abroad, collaborating with musicians across a wide range of instruments.
She served as a member of the “Waseda Mandolin Gakubu,” the esteemed mandolin orchestra at Waseda University as one of the 104th generation members. Additionally, she showcased her musical versatility at Peking University as she proficiently played the zhongruan and mandolin, while also demonstrating her conducting skills with the “Peking University Chinese Music Institute,” a Chinese orchestra.
She is also active as a composer. In 2025, she premiered Lullaby No. 1, a short work for mandolin and piano incorporating elements of Korean traditional music. She is also exploring the adaptation of works originally written for Chinese orchestra for mandolin orchestra. In 2027, she is scheduled to conduct the Tokyo premiere of Li Bochan’s Chu Song (楚頌) in her own arrangement for mandolin orchestra.
Risa’s dedication to her craft has earned her accolades in competitions. She clinched the 3rd prize at the 28th Japan Mandolin Solo Competition in 2023 and secured the 5th position at the 12th ARTE International Mandolin Competition in 2022. Her musical prowess has been honed under the tutelage of renowned mentors, including Takayuki Ishimura for mandolin, Yukimi Hato for piano, Hiroshi Sasaki for conducting, and Ippo Tsuboi for composition.
