Wakana Tateno

Wakana, a native of Japan, began playing the French horn at the age of 13. Her passion for orchestral music and the thrill of performing solos have been her driving forces. She was awarded the gold prize at the Music & Stars Awards in December 2022, 1st prize at Danubia Talent International Festival & Competition in January 2023, 1st prize at the 21st Century Talents Music Competition in January 2023, and received an honorable mention at the 10th Shimoda international music competition in April 2023. As a French horn player, Wakana is drawn to pieces that prominently feature the instrument. While juggling her studies as a business student, she dedicates a minimum of four hours per week to practicing. She places equal emphasis on solo pieces and honing her fundamental skills, recognizing the French horn as one of the most challenging instruments to play worldwide (as per the Guinness World Record). Wakana’s musical education is enriched by Tatsuo Nippashi (the principal horn of the Yomiuri Japan symphony orchestra) and Tom Findlay (a student of the Royal College of Music), whose expressive style she admires greatly. Although she had initially aspired to become a professional horn player, family circumstances led her to abandon that dream. Nonetheless, her unrelenting passion for music motivates her to seek involvement in the field indefinitely.