Described by the New York Times as having “especially eloquent playing,” Ken Hamao is a dynamic musician renowned for his sensitive interpretation. Ken is a member of the Grammy-nominated Ensō String Quartet, which recently toured Australia, Brazil, Colombia, and New Zealand. As a much sought-after chamber musician, he has collaborated with members of the Borromeo, Daedalus, Guarneri, and St. Lawrence Quartets, as well as former United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

Ken also frequently performs with Argento Chamber Ensemble, East Coast Chamber Orchestra, Ensemble Échappé, and Talea Ensemble. An active presence in contemporary music, he has worked closely with eminent composers of our time, including John Adams, Brian Ferneyhough, Beat Furrer, Georg Friedrich Haas, Giya Kancheli, and Esa-Pekka Salonen. Outside of music, Ken is equally passionate about aviation, cocktails, and cooking.