Uploaded July 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
We loved this playful and articulate entry from Julen Ando, which placed third overall in our community scoring competition.
We asked Julien for a few words about himself, and he shared this.
"I'm a French-Japanese violinist and composer. Years ago, I left a former career in engineering & finance to follow my passion in music, which I've played since childhood. I started by arranging popular music for violin and sharing it online.
More recently, I faced the loss of two of the most important people in my life. A difficult experience that became intertwined with my music and forced me into a long hiatus. For two years, it was physically impossible for me to make music or even touch my violin. I've had to slowly relearn how to create, focusing on a sense of play.
Your contest came to me a week before the deadline, and something pulled me in. It is my first step back into music and into a new artistic direction I have been hoping to take. So, I'm deeply moved to be here.
Today, I carry a dream of creating a first original album, tentatively titled "Home": a safe space, in music, for myself and for others who might need it one day. I'm still in the exploration phase, but this contest and the orchestra you are offering feel unexpectedly aligned with this vision and with the tools I need to bring it to life."
Main YouTube: youtube.com/@JulienAndo
Instagram: instagram.com/JulienAndo
Facebook: facebook.com/JulienAndo
Spotify: open.spotify.com/intl-fr/artist/5ECAhE3WIvtNjt56uYGvLT?si=9nTS8p7gQraeIURQUkxh-Q
We loved this playful and articulate entry from Julen Ando, which placed third overall in our community scoring competition.
We asked Julien for a few words about himself, and he shared this.
"I'm a French-Japanese violinist and composer. Years ago, I left a former career in engineering & finance to follow my passion in music, which I've played since childhood. I started by arranging popular music for violin and sharing it online.
More recently, I faced the loss of two of the most important people in my life. A difficult experience that became intertwined with my music and forced me into a long hiatus. For two years, it was physically impossible for me to make music or even touch my violin. I've had to slowly relearn how to create, focusing on a sense of play.
Your contest came to me a week before the deadline, and something pulled me in. It is my first step back into music and into a new artistic direction I have been hoping to take. So, I'm deeply moved to be here.
Today, I carry a dream of creating a first original album, tentatively titled "Home": a safe space, in music, for myself and for others who might need it one day. I'm still in the exploration phase, but this contest and the orchestra you are offering feel unexpectedly aligned with this vision and with the tools I need to bring it to life."
Main YouTube: youtube.com/@JulienAndo
Instagram: instagram.com/JulienAndo
Facebook: facebook.com/JulienAndo
Spotify: open.spotify.com/intl-fr/artist/5ECAhE3WIvtNjt56uYGvLT?si=9nTS8p7gQraeIURQUkxh-Q
