Arisa Okamoto, 18, is a senior at Brookfield East High School. She was born in Japan and has been playing the violin since the age of four. She currently studies with Ilana Setapen, Acting Concertmaster of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra. Arisa was a national finalist of the 2020 Japan Classical Music Competition, placed second in the 2020 Manhattan International String Competition, and was the 2nd place winner of the 2023 Madison Symphony Orchestra Bolz Young Artist Competition.

Last Summer, Arisa attended the 2022 Center Stage Strings in Ann Arbor, MI. She has also participated in the 2019 Ishikawa Music Academy in Japan and Manhattan International Music Festival in China (2018 and 2019) summer festivals. She served as concertmaster during the festival and performed a showpiece by Wieniawski at the Cadillac Shanghai Concert Hall.

Chamber music has been an important part of Arisa’s musical journey, and she enjoys performing in community concerts with her friends and family. In the spring of 2019 and 2021, Arisa and her brother played for Tsugio Tokunaga, Shigeo Neriki, and Tsuyoshi Tsutsumi at the Ishikawa Ongakudo.

Before studying with Ms. Setapen, Arisa received private instruction from Laura Minor, Kumiko Kawamata, Shoko Sasaki, Kazue Omura, Kanae Hashiba, and Momoo Kshibe at the Kyoto City University of Arts.