Colburn Artist Ray Ushikubo Receives Loan from Colin Maki Inc. of the 1741 Guarneri “del Gesù” Violin, the “Playfair”

The instrument is an outstanding example of the work of Guarneri’s craftsmanship, and was one of fewer than 250 ever crafted, made in Cremona, Italy.  The rich and complex tonal qualities of the instruments crafted by Guarneri “del Gesù” have established him as one of history’s greatest violin makers, revered alongside Stradivari.

Thanks to the generous loan from Colin Maki Inc., audiences will have the opportunity to experience the “Playfair”s extraordinary voice brought to life by Ushikubo, a remarkable dual instrumentalist, celebrated for his rare artistry as both a pianist and violinist. This violin will serve as a vital companion to Mr. Ushikubo as he embarks on what promises to be a remarkable career.

On Wednesday, December 3, at 2pm in Colburn School’s Zipper Hall, Ushikubo will debut the 1741 Guarneri “Playfair” violin in a performance of Tomaso Antonio Vitali’s Chaconne in G minor, Nathan Milstein’s Paganiniana, Ernest Chausson’s Poème, and Maurice Ravels’ Tzigane. Tickets are free and can be reserved here. This event will also be livestreamed at https://colburnschool.edu/livestream/.

On Sunday, December 14, at 2pm, Colin Maki Inc. will host Ushikubo’s east coast debut on the “Playfair” violin in a free event at their New York-based location. This is an invitation-only event.

“It’s an extraordinary honor to receive Guarneri’s “Playfair” violin,” said Ushikubo. “To be entrusted with an instrument of such history and beauty is deeply humbling. I’m profoundly grateful to Colin Maki Inc. for this generous loan, and to the Colburn community for nurturing an environment where young artists can explore, grow, and share music at the highest level. I look forward to discovering how this remarkable violin will shape my sound and artistic journey.”

Ushikubo joins a storied lineage of violinists who have performed on Guarneri “del Gesù” instruments, including Jascha Heifetz, Niccolò Paganini, Itzhak Perlman and Pinchas Zukerman.

Known for his “disciplined focus and clarity… and marvelous dynamic nuance” (Arts Knoxville), Ray Ushikubo is a twenty-one-year-old Japanese-American pianist and violinist who has performed on the stages of Carnegie Hall and Walt Disney Concert Hall, and appeared on NBC’s The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Ushikubo made his orchestral debut at age ten with the Young Musicians Foundation Orchestra in Los Angeles’s Dorothy Chandler Pavilion with Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 1 alongside conductor Teddy Abrams. A recipient of the prestigious Davidson Fellow Laureate Award in 2014, Ushikubo was named a Young Steinway Artist and won the 2017 Hilton Head International Piano Competition and the 2016 Piano Concerto Competition at the Aspen Music Festival and School. Ushikubo was featured as a Young Artist-in-Residence of the national radio broadcast Performance Today with host Fred Child and he has been featured on NPR’s From the Top where he was named a Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist.

Colburn Artists

Colburn Artists is a unique in-house management program for Colburn students on the cusp of professional careers. Created in order to provide guidance and support during the critical transition from the conservatory environment to a performance career, the Colburn Artists program is designed to prepare students to work with industry leaders and artist managers. In a supportive atmosphere linked closely with their individual performance studies, they receive personalized career advice and training, including guidance on building relationships with presenters, orchestras, and world-class musicians; developing repertoire; interview preparation; and creating a polished image and online presence.

To learn more about Colin Maki Inc., please visit https://www.colinmaki.com/.

Photos of the 1741 Bartolomeo Giuseppe Guarneri “del Gesù” violin, the “Playfair,” are available here.

Event details

Wednesday, December 3, 2025
at Colburn School’s Zipper Hall
An Artist’s Next Chapter: Ray Ushikubo Debuts the 1741 Guarneri “Playfair” Violin
Open to the public. Free, tickets required
Address: 200 S Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90012
This event will be livestreamed.

Directions and parking

Sunday, December 14, 2025
At Colin Maki Inc.
Ray Ushikubo Debuts the 1741 Guarneri “Playfair” Violin
This is an invitation-only event.
Address: 24 East 64th Street, Second Floor, New York, NY 10065

About Colburn School

A performing arts institution located in the heart of Los Angeles, the COLBURN SCHOOL trains students from beginners to those about to embark on professional careers. The academic units of the School provide a complete spectrum of music and dance education united by a single philosophy: that all who desire to study music or dance should have access to top-level instruction.

• The diploma- and degree-granting Conservatory of Music is distinguished by a unique all-scholarship model, renowned faculty, and outstanding performance opportunities. It prepares the very highest level of collegiate musicians for professional careers.
• The Music Academy is a highly selective training program for gifted young pre-collegiate musicians, designed to prepare students for conservatory study and performing careers at the highest levels of achievement. This residential program balances performance, musical instruction, and academics.
• The Community School of Performing Arts welcomes students of all ages, from seven months old to adults. It offers over 120 classes each year in orchestral instruments, piano, guitar, voice, jazz, music theory, drama, and ensembles including orchestra, choir, and chamber music.
• The Trudl Zipper Dance Institute develops performers of all levels, from aspiring professionals in the Dance Academy to beginners starting in Youth Dance. Students of all levels receive training in ballet, tap, and modern genres as part of a comprehensive dance education.
• Created to serve all units of the School, the Center for Innovation and Community Impact empowers the musical and dance leaders of tomorrow by nurturing students’ passion and ability to serve their communities, preparing them for sustainable careers, and embracing the development of new ideas. The Center embodies Colburn’s commitment to developing young artists with the curiosity, skills, and commitment to make a difference in their field.

Each year, more than 2,000 students from around the world come to Colburn to benefit from the renowned faculty, exceptional facilities, and focus on excellence that unites the community.

In 2024, the Colburn School broke ground on the Frank Gehry-designed Colburn Center, a multi-faceted campus expansion of the Colburn School. Located across the street from the School’s existing campus at the intersection of Olive and Second Streets, the building will enable the School to expand its mission of presenting programs for the public. Gehry’s design includes a 1,000-seat in-the-round concert hall named for Terri and Jerry Kohl Hall, five professional-sized dance studios including a 100-seat studio theater, and gardens that bring fresh air and green spaces to the downtown landscape. The expansion will more than double the facilities for the School’s Trudl Zipper Dance Institute, creating one of the most comprehensive dance education complexes in Southern California.

Social Media

Facebook.com/colburnschool
Instagram and Twitter: @ColburnSchool
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/colburnschoollosangeles

Jennifer Kallend
jkallend@colburnschool.edu
215-622-6195

Lisa Bellamore
lbellamore@gmail.com
323-500-3071