Laoise Matsumoto began her Suzuki studies at the age of 3 ½ with Kristi Manno and Takaya Emura while in Japan. While placing in multiple competitions such as the Young Musicians Festival, WMMC Competition, and Coltman Chamber Competition, she has also been awarded first place in the Great Composers Competition in solo as well as in Chamber Music. After studying with Sandy Yamamoto (faculty of University of Texas, Austin) for 4 years, she now studies at the Oberlin Conservatory with Sibbi Berhardsson. Having many opportunities to commission pieces for many living composers including Michael Frazier’s “Black Portrait”, her love for contemporary and new music expand greatly. Continuing her studies in violin, she continues attending multiple high level intensives for violin while chasing her passion to make music with other people.