Kaito Kobayashi

Kaito Kobayashi is the 2nd prize winner and recipient of Yaltah Menuhin Award (for the best performance of chamber music) of the 20th Leeds International Piano Competition in 2021, and the 3rd prize winner of the Hamamatsu International Piano Competition in 2024. 

He also succeeded in winning prizes at the other numerous competitions such as the first prize at the 12th Ettlingen International Piano Competition for Young Pianists (category B) in 2010 at the age of 14, the Special Student Prize at the Junior Academy Eppan in 2011, the 2nd prize at the 11th Tokyo Music Competition in 2013 and the 3rd prize at the 20th Santa Cecilia International Piano Competition in 2018. 

Kaito was a pupil of Maria João Pires and as a member of her social project called ‘Partitura’, Kaito performed duo recitals with the famed pianist in Italy, Morocco and Japan. He was also involved in the filming session at Belgais.

Kaito performed as soloist with the National Orchestra of Belgium, Liege Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Gulbenkian Orchestra, Sinfonieorchester Basel and indeed many Japanese Orchestras such as NHK Symphony Orchestra among others. 

Kaito joined a choir at the age of 3 and started playing the piano at the age of 4. 

He studied at the Yamaha Music Foundation and graduated in the Ueno Gakuen Senior High School in Tokyo as a scholarship student. 

After a two years Artist in Residency program at the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel in Belgium, he studied at the Musikhochschule in Basel, Switzerland with Claudio Martinez Mehner. 

He graduated in the school with the highest mark and also received the Brambilla Prize for the best Master recital. 

https://kaito-kobayashi.com