WEATHER UPDATE 10:30 AM on Jan 10: Due to a declared state of emergency in North Carolina for impending severe weather conditions, and out of concern for the safety of our audience and musicians, tonight's Bach & Mozart concert at Knight Theater is cancelled. Ticketholders for tonight’s concert will receive an email with ticket options.

Ayako Gamo

Ayako Gamo

On Stage

Ayako has spent the past two decades as a violinist in various American symphonies. From 2005–2018, Ayako played in the first violin section for the Seattle Symphony winning multiple accolades and awards -- including multiple Grammy Awards and the 2018 orchestra of the year by Gramophone. Prior to Seattle, Ayako played with the Oregon Symphony (2003-2005) and has played as a substitute in the Chicago Symphony. Before joining the Charlotte Symphony in 2022, Ayako maintained a small studio in Austin, Texas where she played in the Austin Symphony. Ayako holds a master’s degree in music performance from the Julliard School of Music, where she was a recipient of the C.V. Starr Scholarship. Ayako also holds a bachelor’s degree in music performance from the New England Conservatory, where she won the school-wide concerto competition and performed Bartok’s Violin Concerto at historical Jordan Hall. Ayako’s teachers include: Joel Smirnoff, Michelle Auclair, and Ryosaku Kubota. Her chamber music coaches include: James Dunham, Hsin-Yun Huang, and Harvey Shapiro.