Yuya Mizuno

Cellist Mizuno won the Prague Spring Festival Competition in May, 2025. Mizuno is currently studying with Clemens Hagen at the Mozarteum University in Salzburg, where he has been enrolled since October 2022. He previously completed the Soloist Diploma at the Toho Gakuen School of Music, studying under Sumiko Kurata, and also received instruction from Miklós Perényi at the Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music in Budapest.

His performance career includes appearances at major festivals including the Budapest Spring Festival, Mozartwoche, Pacific Music Festival Sapporo, Takefu International Music Festival, and Chanel Pygmalion Days. As a chamber musician, he has performed with distinguished artists including Kei Itoh, Ilya Gringolts, Akiko Suwanai, and Tsuyoshi Tsutsumi.

Yuya has participated in masterclasses led by renowned cellists, including Frans Helmerson, Ivan Monighetti, Miklós Perényi, David Geringas, and Mario Brunello. He earned high recognition in numerous international competitions. In 2024, he was awarded First Prize at the Enrico Mainardi Competition. He also won First Prize and the Audience Award at the 13th Tokyo Music Competition, and received First Prize along with four special prizes at the 89th Music Competition of Japan.

As a soloist, he has performed with leading orchestras including the Prague Symphony Orchestra, Tokyo Symphony Orchestra, Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, Japan Philharmonic Orchestra, Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra, Osaka Symphony Orchestra, and Kyoto Symphony Orchestra.

He has been awarded scholarships from institutions such as the International Music Academy in Liechtenstein, the Dresden Music Festival, the Ezoe Memorial Recruit Foundation, and the Rohm Music Foundation. Mizuno is also a core member of the Japan National Orchestra, directed by pianist Kyohei Sorita.

His debut album, featuring Kodály’s Sonata for Solo Cello and Chopin’s Cello Sonata, was released in 2023.

Ales Brezina, Board Director of the .Viktor Kalabis and Zuzana Ruzickova Foundation and Chairman of the foundation’s Prague affiliate, presents the prize to Yuya Mizuno after his winning performance playing Bach and Dvorak, May 2025.