Yuki Numata Resnick

Yuki Numata Resnick is an accomplished violinist, nonprofit leader, and educator. Originally from Vancouver, British Columbia, she is passionate about her adopted home in Buffalo, New York, and to ensuring that all youth in her community have equitable access to music education.

Ms. Resnick earned violin performance degrees from the Eastman School of Music and the University of Michigan. She also holds a Certificate in Nonprofit Management from Duke University.

As a violinist, Ms. Resnick has performed on stages ranging from the Sydney Opera House to Carnegie Hall. She is a passionate advocate for new music. In 2016, she released For Ko, her debut solo record featuring brand new works by living composers, and she has concertized throughout Europe, Australia, Asia, and North America.

A versatile musician, Ms. Resnick has played with and recorded for bands including The National, Beirut, Local Natives, Lisa Hannigan, and Arcade Fire. Most recently, she recorded for Taylor Swift and can be heard on Swift’s Midnights, Folklore, Evermore, Fearless – Taylor’s Version, and Red – Taylor’s version. She is also a featured musician on Ed Sheeran’s upcoming record, Subtract.

Ms. Resnick held the position of Assistant Professor of Music at the University at Buffalo from 2013-2016. During this time, she co-founded Buffalo String Works, a music program focused on leadership development and social change. She held the Executive Director position from 2019-2023, steadily growing the organization’s capacity to serve over 150 refugees, immigrants, and historically marginalized youth. At the time of her departure, Buffalo String Works employed 22 staff and faculty and had a budget of $1 million.

Ms. Resnick is currently Director of Arts and Culture at the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo. Her role interacts closely with the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation’s $100 million commitment to transforming the long-term viability of Western New York’s arts and culture community through the establishment of an endowment to support the sector now and into the future. Ms. Resnick is honored to be entrusted with leading this critical funding initiative, and is dedicated to ensuring that the values of equity and inclusion are lifted up throughout Western New York’s arts and culture community.