Jury

After graduating from the Tokyo University of the Arts High School of Music and the university, she completed her master's course at the university's graduate school and the Meister Soloist course at the German National University of Music and Performing Arts Munich. She is a German national performer and has received the Tokyo University of the Arts Seichokai Award. She placed second in the high school division of the Tokyo edition of the All-Japan Student Music Competition. She placed third in the Nojima Minoru Yokosuka Piano Competition. She also received a diploma from the International Mozart Competition. She has been selected to perform in numerous concerts both in Japan and abroad, and is also actively involved in chamber music performances, including collaborations with members of the NHK Symphony Orchestra. She has taught the next generation of musicians at the Tokyo University of the Arts High School of Music and Japan Women's University, and has served as a judge at the Chopin International Competition in ASIA and other events. She has received the Outstanding Instructor Award at the Chopin International Piano Competition in ASIA and the Japan Classical Music Competition.

Violinist and Doctor of Music. Aiming to build a diverse repertoire, she is based in Japan and the UK. She has given recitals at Southwark Cathedral and the Embassy of Japan in the UK, among other venues. After graduating from the Tokyo University of the Arts High School of Music, she graduated from the Department of Instrumental Music at the same university, where she won the Doseikai Award. After completing a Master's degree at the Royal Academy of Music, she will conduct research on gender studies in violin performance in her doctoral studies, and will receive her doctorate in 2024. She currently continues to present her research at international conferences, while also performing and teaching the next generation of musicians.

Kohei Ichikawa,Tenore,is a native of Japan.Born in Fujieda City, Shizuoka. Lirico Reggero tenor with a voice that specializes in lyrical and light expression. He graduated from theTokyo University of the Arts. At the time of graduation, he received the Toshi Matsuda Award, the Acanthus Music Award, and the New Face Award of the DOSEIKAI and he sang at the Yomiuri newcomer concert. He received full scholarship to got his master’s degree in vocal music of opera from theTokyo University of the Arts. From 2012, he studied in Milan, Italy for one year.
He received full scholarship to completed the 60th master class of the Nikikai Opera Training Institute. At the end of the course, he received the Grand Prize and the Shizuko Kawasaki Award.
Mr.Ichikawa has won Top Prize in many vocal competition,includeing the 51st Japan-Italy Vocal Concorso,the 25th Sogakudo Japan Song Competition, the 86th Japan Music Competition Opera Division, the 39th Italian Vocal Concorso, the 15th Conseil Marronnier 21, the 20th Shizuoka Virtuoso Audition; he won the Concerto Award.Each season,Mr.Ichikawa sings a wide variety of opera,concerts and recitals.In opera, in addition to making a supporting appearance as Zorzeto in the New National Theatre's opera training institute graduation performance "Il Campiello". He made his debut as Oronte in the New Wave Opera Theater's "Alcina" at the opera group Tokyo Nikikai, and then played the role of Tamino in "The Magic Flute" directed by Amon Miyamoto in the 70th anniversary performance of the Nikikai, and the role of Orpheus in "Orphee aux enfers". He sang in the Nissei Theater's "Così fan tutte" as Ferrando and receive high praise.In addition to playing Paolino, Nemorino ,Alfredo, José, Rodolfo etc.He has also been a soloist in religious songs such as The 59th Tokyo University of the Arts’s Messiah Soloist, the Ninth, Mozart's Requiem,  Paradise and Peri and The Four Seasons.In Matsudo City, Chiba, where he lives, he has established a citizen opera group "Matsudo Opera" under the motto of "Local Production Song" and is also focusing on the spread of community-based opera. He has studied with Kyoko Fujii, Michio Tatara, Hiroyuki Yoshida, N. Zanini, and E. Fogliati. He is a Tokyo Nikikai’s member.

In 2018, he won the 4th prize at the 10th Hamamatsu International Piano Competition, and in 2016, he was a finalist at the Queen Elisabeth International Music Competition (Brussels, Belgium), one of the world’s three major competitions. In addition, he has won many prizes at domestic and international competitions such as the Music Competition of Japan, the PTNA Piano Competition, and the Tokyo Music Competition. He has performed with many famous orchestras such as the Belgian National Orchestra conducted by Marin Alsop. He has given recitals in Japan, France, Belgium, Germany, Brazil, Azerbaijan and the UK. Graduated from Tokyo University of the Arts, Royal College of Music, and Leipzig University of Music and Performing Arts, who released their first CD in 2021 and received acclaim in music magazines and newspapers. He has studied piano with Nobiko Miyoshi, C. Soares, Kei Ito, D. Alekseev, G. Fout, and R. Saikurov. From 2021, he is a part-time lecturer at Tokyo University of the Arts, Faculty of Music, Piano Department.

Graduated from Tokyo University of the Arts (BA), Conservatoire de Musique de Genève (MA), and CRR de Paris (Piccolo) with unanimous first prize, and returned to Japan with a Konzertexamen from the Hochschule für Musik Freiburg. Former contract member of the Freiburg Philharmonic and the Mannheimer Philharmoniker. Selected as a scholarship student of the Rohm Music Foundation and the State of Baden-Württemberg.She won the second prize at the 14th Conser Marronnier 21 and the highest prize at the 6th International Competition of Romania. She was a finalist at the 69th Geneva International Competition and the 65th ARD Competition. Currently, she performs solo concerts, chamber music, and orchestras, and teaches younger students.

@Ayane Shindo
I graduated from Tokyo University of the Arts and graduate school.I have won prizes in various competitions in Japan.Currently, I am working as a part-time lecturer at Tokyo University of the Arts and as a YouTuber.

After graduating from the Tokyo University of the Arts, Faculty of Music, High School of Music, he traveled to Russia alone and graduated from the Tchaikovsky Moscow State Conservatory on a ROHM Music Foundation overseas scholarship. He has won numerous competitions both in Japan and abroad, including first place at the 14th Kanagawa Music Competition, third place at the 1st Morioka International Piano Competition for Young Piano Players, third place at the 4th Tokyo Music Competition, and finalist at the 15th Rachmaninoff International Piano Competition. He has also performed as a soloist with many of Japan's major orchestras, including the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, Tokyo New City Orchestra, Kanagawa Philharmonic Orchestra, Sendai Philharmonic Orchestra, Nagoya Philharmonic Orchestra, Osaka Philharmonic Orchestra, Osaka Symphony Orchestra, and Kyushu Symphony Orchestra. He received the Aichi Prefecture Arts and Culture Encouragement Prize for New Artists in 2021. He is a director of the NPO Arts and Culture Nurturing Young Buds Association and an associate professor at Nagoya University of Arts.

Graduated from Tokyo University of the Arts, majoring in percussion instruments. Graduated from the same graduate school. In 2009, she performed marimba concerto with the Geidai Philharmonia Orchestra at the Geidai Morning Concert. Selected for the marimba section of the 31st Japan Wind and Percussion Competition. From September 2013 to March 2015, she was a part-time lecturer at the Music High School attached to the Faculty of Music, Tokyo University of the Arts. From October 2016 to September 2019, she was a contract member of the Kanagawa Philharmonic Orchestra. Currently a part-time lecturer at Shobi University.

Graduated from Tokyo University of the Arts. Studied abroad in Germany as the first scholarship student of the Saitama Prefecture Study Abroad Program. Completed the master’s course at the German National University of Music, Theater and Media in Hannover. 13th Tohoku Youth Music Competition Silver Prize, 19th Saitama Piano Competition Bronze Prize and Saitama Piano Competition Award. As a soloist, she performed with the Sendai Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by the late Kazuhiko Komatsu. Awarded the 14th Concert Marronnier Main Selection. Performed with the late Hayao Kawai (flute), former Commissioner of the Agency for Cultural Affairs. Duo recital at Hamburg “Opernloft” and solo recital at “Bechstein Young Profesionals”. In addition to participating in master classes around the world, she has given solo recitals and chamber music concerts in Japan and overseas. She has studied under Kyoko Tomoda, Kenichi Ara, Katsumi Ueda, G. Tacchino, Akiko Ebi, and B. Getzke. Studied chamber music under Kozo Moriyama, Seizo Azuma, M. Becker, and N. Rimmer. After returning to Japan, he has been performing her own performances and also instructing younger musicians. Currently teaching research assistant at the Faculty of Music, Tokyo University of the Arts.

After graduating from the Department of Liberal Arts at Osaka Kyoiku University and the Master's program at Tokyo University of the Arts, he graduated from the NHK Symphony Orchestra Academy. He has won first place at the Tokyo Music Competition and the Japan Woodwind Competition, and won second place and the Audience Award at the Takarazuka Vega Music Competition. As a soloist, he has performed with the Gunma Symphony Orchestra, the Japan Philharmonic Orchestra, the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Central Band. As an orchestral and chamber musician, he has performed at the Tokyo Spring Music Festival, the Miyazaki International Music Festival, and the Kusatsu International Summer Music Festival, among others. His solo CD, "L'heure Verte," was selected as a Record Geijutsu Special Selection. He is currently the principal clarinetist of the Gunma Symphony Orchestra. He also teaches the next generation of musicians as a part-time lecturer in the Chamber Music Department at Tokyo University of the Arts.

©︎Ayane Shindo
Born in Akita Prefecture, she attended the Music Department of Saitama Prefectural Omiya Koryo High School before graduating and completing her graduate studies at Tokyo University of the Arts with honors. She then traveled to Europe and completed her studies at the Imola International Piano Academy (Italy). Described as a musician who combines emotion and precision, she has received acclaim across a wide range of fields. She has won prizes in competitions both in Japan and abroad, including second place and the Audience Award in the Piano Division at the 14th Tokyo Music Competition and second place at the 7th Euregio Piano Award (Germany). She has performed at concerts and music festivals across Japan, Italy, Germany, France, Spain, and elsewhere. In addition to her performing career, she currently teaches at Tokyo University of the Arts, Toho Gakuen School of Music, Saitama Prefectural Omiya Koryo High School, and the co-educational Toho Girls' High School of Music.

Started playing the violin at the age of 3 and the cello at the age of 13. Completed master’s course at Tokyo University of the Arts and its graduate school. While in school, she traveled to Europe and completed the advanced course of the Lyon Conservatory, the Lugano Conservatory, and the master’s course of the Geneva Conservatoire. 2nd prize in Yokohama International Music Competition String Section, 1st prize in Glazunov International Competition Cello Section, 1st prize in Cle d’Or International Competition Cello Section, 1st prize in Cle d’Or International Competition (Paris), 2nd prize in Padua International Music Competition String Section (Italy). In 2018, she performed Honegger’s cello concerto with the Nagoya Philharmonic Orchestra at the Agency for Cultural Affairs Upcoming Performer Development Project. She has also been invited as a soloist to Israel Camerata Jerusalem (Israel) and Academia Adriatica (Italy). Highly acclaimed as a chamber musician, she has performed with M. Martin, Nobuko Imai, M. Repin, M. Westphal, A. Konunova, Z. Lehner and others in Japan and overseas. Currently, Nagoya Philharmonic Orchestra junior cellist. She continues to perform in Japan and Europe as a soloist and chamber musician.

Born in Tokyo, Japan, Aki Sawa started learning the violin at the age of six. Aki attended the high school attached to Tokyo Geidai (Tokyo University of the Arts), and obtained her BMus with top marks from Tokyo Geidai. She won major prizes in the University, and also obtained the 2 nd prize at the International Bach Competition in Paris. Aki has played concertos with the Geidai Philharmonia, the National Philharmonic of Ukraine and the Kansai Philharmonic Orchestra. She was awarded the Aoyama Music Prize in Kyoto in 2011 and the Matsukata Music Prize in Kobe in 2012. Aki studied for her MA in Performance with Prof. Gyorgy Pauk at the Royal Academy of Music in London where she was awarded the Rowby Woof Prize, the Wilfrid Parry Prize, and the Hannah Horowitz Award and she finished her masters with receiving the Diploma of Royal Academy of Music in 2012. She was accepted as a member of the LSO String Experience Scheme 2010/2011. After returning to Tokyo, she obtained her MA with top marks from Tokyo Geidai. She made her debut recital at the Tokyo Bunkakaikan in 2014. She is a faculty member of the Tokyo Geidai and also a concertmistress of the Geidai Philharmonia Orchestra.

Doctor in Music, a triturated player of historical/contemporary cello and viola da gamba. Dr. in Music and Cello from Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music. His research focuses on the history of technique and score reading from the 17th to 19th centuries. He holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the Conservatoire de Satie in Paris, France. He is the principal player and sub-director of La Musica Collana, member of Bach Collegium Japan, "Kigokoro" Trio, Tokyo University of the Arts Strings, Tokyo Baroque Players, and others. His 1st CD "Les Monologues" was recommended by the Newspeper Yomiuri and 4 magazines, and his 2nd CD "AU-DELÀ" released in 2023 was recommended by the Newspeper Asahi and selected as Notable Disc on music magazine. He is a professor at Showa University of Music, and a member of the Period Music Institute. He is a jury member of the Inzai International Music Competition and the Kochi Music Competition.

©︎Ayane Shindo
Graduated from the Tokyo University of the Arts Graduate School of Music, Master's Program. Studied at the University of Music and Performing Arts Leipzig (Germany). While studying abroad, she studied oboe with D. Walter and N. Deutsch, and English horn with G. Jannemann-Fischer. Since 2014, she has been an oboist with the Tokyo University of the Arts Philharmonia Orchestra (and a performance lecturer at the Tokyo University of the Arts Orchestral Studies Department). She is also a member of the oboe ensemble "Ueno Chalmera" and Tokyo Double Reed Honpo. Starting in April 2025, she will be a part-time lecturer at Seitoku University's Faculty of Music.

Completed the Master's program in Opera at the Graduate School of Music, Tokyo University of the Arts, and completed the Doctoral program at the same university, obtaining her PhD. Received the Mitsubishi Estate Award in the Music Division. Won second place in the Vocal Division and the Iwatani Award (Audience Award) at the 86th Japan Music Competition. Appeared at the Lech Classical Music Festival in Austria in 2023. Appeared in operas such as Constanze in The Abduction from the Seraglio (Wiener Konzerthaus, Graz Musikverein) and the Fairy in Cendrillon (Nissei Opera). Received a training program under the Agency for Cultural Affairs' Emerging Artist Overseas Dispatch Program in 2020. Recipient of the Rohm Music Foundation Scholarship in 2024.

Shun Yoshino has gained international recognition for his achievements as a chamber musician, orchestral musician, soloist and educator. He studied with Naoko Tanaka at the Juilliard School Pre-college division. He later studied with Akiko Tatsumi, Kazuhiro Takagi, and Masafumi Hori at the Toho Gakuen School of Music in Tokyo, where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree. He has enjoyed an active and far-reaching orchestral career performing with orchestras such as the National Arts Centre Orchestra of Canada, the Royal Philharmonic in London, and San Francisco Academy Orchestra. He has also appeared at numerous festivals including, New York SMF, Courchevel Music Festival, Music Festival Argerich’s Meeting Point, and Kyoto International Music Student Festival.