27-year-old Japanese cellist Yuya Mizuno won first prize, plus special prizes including future concert opportunities
The 76th Prague Spring International Music Competition cello division took place from 7 May 2025, with the final round on 14 May at the Dvořák Hall of the Rudolfinum.
Three finalists were selected to perform from the previous two rounds, and were accompanied by the Prague Symphony Orchestra and conductor Marek Prášil.
First prize went to 27-year-old Japanese cellist Yuya Mizuno, who received CZK 250,000 (£8,400). He also won the Viktor Kalabis and Zuzana Růžičková Prize of USD1,500, with potential future concert opportunities worth up to USD 8,500 upon inclusion of a work aby Viktor Kalabis in the concert programme.
Mizuno also won the Prize of the City of Prague for the most successful laureate, the Bärenreiter Prize comprising vouchers for sheet music, as well as a future performance opportunity at the 81st Prague Spring International Music Festival in 2026.
’I am so grateful for this result and also for the opportunity to play Dvořák’s Cello Concerto in the Dvořák Hall, in this historic and really beautiful place,’ said Mizuno. ’And additionally, I received first prize, which really surprised me, and I was truly very happy to hear that.
’The ten days in Prague were truly incredible; everyone here is very kind. I am truly grateful for all the support I have received here, and I will do my best to give my all in the future.’
Second prize went to Till Schuler from Germany, who received CZK 150,000 (£5,000). Schuler also received a performance opportunity at the Festival EuroArt Praha during the 2025–2026 season.
Third prize went to Alexandra Kahrer from Austria, who received CZK 100,000 (£3,380). Kahrer also received the Audience Prize, plus the Czech Music Fund Foundation Prize for the best performance of Sonata No. 5 Frammenti e Canto by Pavel Zemek Novák, worth CZK 20,000 (£676).
Seungyeon Baik, Constantin Heise, Sanghyeok Park received honourable mentions of the jury following Round II. Tae-Yeon Kim received the Bohuslav Martinů Foundation Prize for best interpretation of work composed by Martinů, worth CZK 50,000 (£1690).
UK cellist Raphael Wallfisch chaired the jury, which comprised Maria Kliegel, Marc Coppey, Natalie Clein, Michal Kaňka, Tomáš Jamník and Ľudovít Kanta.
203 cellists registered for this year’s Prague Spring Competition. Jury chair Wallfisch commented: ’I think I speak on behalf of all my dear colleagues, we have spent fantastic ten days listening to extremely high standard of playing, of commitment, of passion, and of love of music and of our wonderful instrument, the cello.
’For everybody who has been lucky enough to play tonight, it is a prize enough just to play Dvořák in this great and historic space where Dvořák himself would listen to music.’
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