Queensland Symphony Orchestra’s Concertmaster Natsuko Yoshimoto will step down after six years in the position, the orchestra announced today.

Natsuko Yoshimoto. Photo supplied

Yoshimoto joined the QSO as Co-Concertmaster in 2021. When fellow Co-Concertmaster Warwick Adeney departed the orchestra in 2022, she took on the position of Concertmaster.

She previously held the position of Concertmaster with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra for 12 years.

Born in Japan, Yoshimoto has appeared as a soloist with the London Symphony Orchestra, The Hallé, Tokyo Symphony Orchestra, Hong Kong Sinfoniette and the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, among others. She is a member of chamber group Ensemble Q, and previously led the Australian String Quartet and the Grainger Quartet. She was the recipient of the the Iwaki Award in 2007.

Yoshimoto is now setting her sights on the next stage of her career, which the QSO says will include “more opportunities for chamber and solo playing”.

She is set to return to the QSO stage for a guest performance in its 2027 season, to be announced later this month.

Natsuko Yoshimoto. Photo © Claudio Raschella.

Her final performance as Concertmaster will be Don Juan & Manfred on 27–28 November. The QSO will commence the search for the new Concertmaster soon.

In October, Yoshimoto also performs at UKARIA’s Chamberfest in its Kurtág 100 – Kafka Fragments program.

“Natsuko’s extraordinary musicianship has been a gift to the organisation, and we wish Natsuko all the best for her future career and thank her for her leadership and inspiring performances,” wrote a representative for the QSO in a Facebook post.

“We look forward to celebrating Natsuko’s wonderful contribution to QSO and our audiences over the next few months.”