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Spectacular Cello Final at the Prague Spring

Competitions

Yuya Mizuno wins First Prize in the 2025 Cello Category

The winner of the 76th Prague Spring International Music Competition in the violoncello category is Yuya Mizuno, 27 years old, from Japan. Second place went to Till Schuler from Germany. Third place went to Alexandra Kahrer from Austria. “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. And additionally, I received a first price, 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,” said winner Yuya Mizuno. 

Yuya Mizuno, First Prize

Yuya Mizuno was born in 1998 and started playing the cello at the age of six. He graduated from the Toho Gakuen Music High School at the top of the class and studied in the Soloist Diploma Course of the Toho Gakuen College on a scholarship under Sumiko Kurata and Dai Miyata. Since 2018, he has been studying at Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music under Miklós Perényi.
Yuya Mizuno played the cello as a soloist with the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra, the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, the Japan Philharmonic Orchestra and the Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra in famous music halls in Japan, such as the Suntory Hall and the Tokyo Bunka Kaikan. 

Till Schuler, Second Prize

A record number of 203 cellists registered for this year’s Prague Spring Competition. “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,” said jury chairman Raphael Wallfisch.

The performances of the three finalists during the final evening, which took place on May 14 in the Dvořák Hall of the Rudolfinum, accompanied by the Prague Symphony Orchestra and conductor Marek Prášil, can be viewed on the YouTube channel of the Prague Spring. 

The partners of the competition were: Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic, the Capital City of Prague, and the ČEZ Foundation.

Alexandra Kahrer, Third Prize

Prizes:
1st Prize: Yuya Mizuno
2nd Prize: Till Schuler
3rd Prize: Alexandra Kahrer
Audience Prize: Alexandra Kahrer

Jury: 
Raphael Wallfisch (Chair), Maria Kliegel, Marc Coppey, Natalie Clein, Michal Kaňka, Tomáš Jamník, and Ľudovít Kanta.

Artists:
Prague Symphony Orchestra/ Marek Prášil, Conductor

 

©WFIMC 2025/FR