Karen Kobayashi, 17, is a Japanese-born flutist currently based in Barrington IL. She is a recent graduate of the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra’s Symphony Orchestra and the Phil and Eli Taylor Performance Academy for Young Artists at the Royal Conservatory of Music.
Karen is also an alumna of the Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra and the Toronto Youth Wind Orchestra. Most recently, Karen was awarded first prize at the 2024-25 Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra concerto competition and made her debut as a soloist with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra at Roy Thomson Hall in 2025. Karen is delighted to return to Introductions at WFMT and looks forward to sharing her music with audiences once again! She is accompanied by Yoko Yamada-Selvaggio on piano.
