About this Artist

Lio Itaya (b. 2008) is entering their second year as a fellow in the LA Phil’s Composer Fellowship Program. Prior to joining the program, Itaya participated in Brightwork High School’s Composer Initiative for three years, with Nina Shekhar as their mentor.  They study violin with Elizabeth Hedman at Pasadena Conservatory of Music and are a member of the Pasadena Youth Symphony Philharmonic Orchestra and the Ed and Mari Edelman Chamber Music Institute at Colburn Community School. Itayais proud of their Japanese heritage and continues to study Japanese in their spare time. They also enjoy participating in community events, such as the Nisei Week Parade in Little Tokyo as a member of Nihon Buyou dance group. Itaya loves music from both the East and the West and aspires to be someone who can bridge the two cultures through language and music.