As the winner of the 75th Geneva International Music Competition in 2021, Michiaki Ueno has proven to be one of the most promising artists on the classical music scene. Born in Paraguay in 1995, he spent his childhood in Spain. After moving to Japan, Michiaki made his debut as a soloist at the prestigious Suntory Hall at just eleven years old, performing the Lalo Cello Concerto. This led to his win in the International Tchaikovsky Competition for Young Musicians and catapulted him onto the international scene. His accolades include first prizes at the Romanian International Music Competition, where he also received the Romanian Embassy Prize and the Romanian Radio Culture Prize, and at the International Johannes Brahms Competition, among others. He attracted the world’s attention at the Geneva International Music Competition with his sensational performance of the Lutoslawski Cello Concerto, winning the first prize with three special awards, including the Young Audience Prize.
Educated under the tutelage of Iñaki Etxepare, Hakuro Mohri, and Pieter Wispelwey, Michiaki further honed his musicality as an artist-in-residence at the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel in Belgium, under Gary Hoffman and Jeroen Reuling. He has enriched his artistry through masterclasses with luminaries like Steven Isserlis and Frans Helmerson, among others. As a soloist, Michiaki has collaborated with leading orchestras including the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, Warsaw Philharmonic, KBS Symphony Orchestra, and the NHK Symphony Orchestra. He has shared the stage in chamber music performances with acclaimed artists such as Martha Argerich, Mischa Maisky, Jean-Guihen Queryas, and Augustin Dumay. Michiaki’s festival appearances span the globe, participating in the Verbier Music Festival and the Prussia Cove Music Seminar, and featuring engagements at La Folle Journée de Nantes, the Montpellier Music Festival, the Pacific Music Festival, and the Takefu International Music Festival. Michiaki’s recording career began ambitiously with the release of his world debut album, featuring the complete Bach suites at the age of 26. This was nominated for the Opus Klassik Award, highly praised for his natural musicality and fresh interpretation. His artistry has been honored with numerous awards, including the Idemitsu Music Award, and the Hideo Saito Memorial Foundation Award. Currently, Michiaki plays on a P.A. Testore cello, graciously loaned from the Munetsugu Collection. He was generously supported by foundations such as the Rohm Music Foundation and the Ezoe Memorial Recruit Foundation.
