The Akron Youth Symphony is pleased to announce that Ayaka Coffman has been selected as a winner at the 2019 Concerto Competition.

Ayaka is currently a 16-year-old junior at Archbishop Hoban High School. She has been playing violin since the age of 5, and is currently studying with Barbara Weber. She previously studied with Lois Damron and with Marian Goss of the Western Reserve Suzuki School, where she participated in the chamber music and orchestra programs.

Ayaka has been a member of Akron Youth Symphony Orchestra since 2016. She was the winner of the AYS Concerto Competition in 2017, and performed the first movement of the Bruch Violin Concerto No. 1 in the final concert of that season. In December, she was invited to perform for Tuesday Musical Association members at the O’Neil House Bed and Breakfast.  She also performs on violin with the Archbishop Hoban High School Theater. 

Outside of music, Ayaka enjoys horseback riding, cooking, recipe blogging, traveling and spending time with her cousins.

She will perform a violin solo on Lalo’s Symphonie espagnole at the Akron Youth Symphony’s Spring Concert on May 5.

Congratulations Ayaka!