Yo Kitamura
CELLO 2026 : Fifth Prize
Yo Kitamura is currently studying at the Universität der Künste Berlin under Jens Peter Maintz and pursues the Soloist Diploma at the Toho Gakuen School of Music under Tsuyoshi Tsutsumi. He has taken part in masterclasses with artists such as David Geringas, Philippe Muller and Nicolas Altstaedt. Among his awards are First Prize at the George Enescu, Pablo Casals and Johannes Brahms competitions, and Second Prize at the Khachaturian International Competition. He has performed with the Romanian National Radio Orchestra, Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra Pardubice and Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, among others, and under such conductors as Manfred Honeck, Sebastian Weigle and Jonathan Bloxham. He is the recipient of the Saito Hideo Memorial Fund Award, Idemitsu Music Award and Prix Jean-Nicolas Firmenich of the Verbier Festival Academy.Instrument: Antonio Casini
Japan
Year of birth: 2004
Year of birth: 2004
Teachers
2023 - : Jens Peter Maintz2021 - : Tsuyoshi Tsutsumi
2013 - 2022 : Nobuko Yamazaki
Degrees
2023 - : Toho Gakuen School of Music, Soloist Diploma2023 - : Bachelor of Music, Berlin University of the Arts
Concerts
2025 : Suntory Hall, Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra Subscription Concert, Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra / Sebastian Weigle2025 : Sala Capitol, Banatul Timișoara Philharmonic, Banatul Timișoara Philharmonic / Radu Popa
2025 : LMTA Klaipėda Faculty Concert Hall, The International Klaipėda Cello Festival, Mikhail Mordvinov, piano
2025 : Grand Palace Hall, George Enescu International Festival, Gustav Mahler Jugendorchester / Manfred Honeck
2024 : Rudolfinum, Dvořák Hall, International Music Festival Young Prague, Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra Pardubice / Jan Sedláček
2024 : MUZA Kawasaki Symphony Hall, Festa Summer MUZA KAWASAKI, Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra / Kosuke Tsunoda
Competitions
2024 : 1st prize, Pablo Casals International Award2024 : 1st prize, George Enescu International Competition
2023 : 1st prize, Music Competition of Japan
2023 : 1st prize, International Johannes Brahms Competition
2022 : 2nd prize, Khachaturian International Competition
2017 : 1st prize, International Tchaikovsky Competition for Young Musicians
Video
Final 2026: Yo Kitamura - Prokofiev
Final 2026: Yo Kitamura - Fang
Semi-final 2026 : Yo Kitamura - recital
Semi-final 2026: Yo Kitamura - concerto
First round 2026: Yo Kitamura
Photo
Program
Final (26/05/2026)
Fang Man Four Odes to the Tidings of Flowers
Sergey Prokofiev Symphony-concerto op. 125
Yo Kitamura, cello
Belgian National Orchestra, dir. Antony Hermus
Semi-final
Récital (14/05/2026)
Harold Noben Caffeine
Francis Poulenc Sonata for cello and piano FP 143
Julius Klengel Scherzo op. 6
Yo Kitamura, cello
Naoko Sonoda, pianist accompanist
Concerto (11/05/2026)
Anton Kraft Concerto in C major op. 4
Yo Kitamura, cello
Orchestre Royal de Chambre de Wallonie, dir. Vahan Mardirossian
First round (04/05/2026)
Nadia Boulanger 3 Pièces
Kaija Saariaho Lullaby
Luigi Boccherini Sonata in B flat major G. 8
Yo Kitamura, cello
Naoko Sonoda, pianist accompanist
Javier López Escalona, cellist accompanist
