Thirteen year old Kaoruko Hayashi is an aspiring pianist. She began piano lessons with Mrs. Helen Twiss 7 years ago, and currently studies with Mrs. Akiko Gaffney. She has also performed and studied at the master classes with Dr. Natsuki Fukasawa, Ms. Mary Moran, Dr. Lino Rivera, Dr. Richard Cionco, and Mr. Jon Nakamatsu.
She is the second prize winner of both the 2016 ENKOR International Competition and the 2016 US New Star Etude Competition. Most recently, she got the prize at the CAPMT State Honors Competition. She also participated in San Jose International Piano Competition both in 2016 and 2017. At the local level, she won the first place in the 2016 Classical Masters Music Festival Competition, the 2016 JPTAG Spring Piano Competition and the 2017 Go for the Gold Music Competition held by CAPMT Sacramento Chapter. She also plays chamber music. She participated in the 2016 Winter Chamber Music Program directed by Mrs. Susan Lamb Cook, and her piano trio won the first prize in the 2017 MTAC Sacramento Branch VOCE Competition.
Besides playing the piano, Kaoruko studies violin under Ms. Heather Powell. She is a member of the Sacramento Youth Symphony and the concertmaster of the seventh-grade orchestra at Holmes Junior High School directed by Mr. Angelo Moreno respectively.
In her spare time, she enjoys reading, running, and spending time with friends and her little sister.
