Danjulo Ishizaka

The German-Japanese cellist, born in 1979, received his first cello lessons at the age of four. After completing studies with Hans Christian Schweiker, he spent time in the United States at Indiana University. Boris Pergamenschikov, with whom he studied from 1998 until 2004 at the Hanns Eisler Conservatory in Berlin, was a fundamental influence, artistically and personally as well. From 2004 to 2006 he studied at the Conservatory with Antje Weithaas and Tabea Zimmermann. Furthermore, he has been strongly influenced by Bernhard Greenhouse, György Kurtág, Menahem Pressler and the Amadeus-Quartet.

After previously being awarded 1st prizes at the 1998 international Gaspar Cassado cello competition in Spain and the 1999 International Lutoslawski cello competition in Warsaw, Danjulo Ishizaka won the 1st prize at the renowned ARD international music competition in Munich, Germany. In 2002, he claimed the Grand Prix Emanuel Feuermann of the Kronberg Academy and the UDK in Berlin - this competition, under the patronage of Daniel Barenboim, was created in honor of the 100th anniversary of the birth of the legendary cellist. Most recently Danjulo Ishizaka was honored with the Prix Young Artist of the Year thanks to his, according to the jury, "virtuosity, exceptional musicianship and artistic charisma."

Danjulo Ishizaka had his international breakthrough in November 2003, playing concerts in the Musikverein in Vienna with the Vienna Symphonic Orchestra under the baton of Krzysztof Penderecki. Following a performance at Frankfurt's Alte Oper, the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung raved about him: "Genius breaks new ground." Since then he has been performing around the world with leading orchestras such as the NHK Symphony Orchestra, the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra, the Bavarian Radio Symphony, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, the Radio-Sinfonie-Orchester Frankfurt, the Orchestra Gulbenkian, the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, Lithuanian National Symphony Orchestra, the Orchestre Philharmonique du Luxembourg, the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields and the Munich Chamber Orchestra.

Ishizaka’s collaboration with the Sony Classical CD label underscores the extraordinary success of this young artist. For his debut CD he has recorded sonatas by Britten, Franck and Mendelssohn-Bartholdy with pianist Martin Helmchen. In 2006 this CD has been awarded the "Echo Klassik" award of the Germany Phono Acadamy.

Beyond his activities as a soloist, Ishizaka performs chamber music with well known artists including Gidon Kremer, Christoph Poppen, Julia Fischer, Lars Vogt, Tabea Zimmermann and Elena Bashkirova with the Jerusalem Chamber Music Festival Ensemble. He is regularly invited to renowned music festivals such as the Cellofestival Kronberg, Schleswig-Holstein music festival, Rheingau music festival, Kissinger Sommer, Kammermusikfest Lockenhaus, Ljubljana Music Festival, International Music Festival Santander, City of London Festival, and the Salzburg Easter Festival. His international concert schedule takes him among other destinations to Germany, Spain, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, France, Israel, Italy, USA, Poland, China, Russia and Japan. In March 2006 he had his Carnegie Hall debut.

In 2007 he followed an invitation by Mstislav Rostropovich to perform in major cities of Europe under his baton and tours with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of Leonard Slatkin, the Sinfonietta Cracovia directed by Krzysztof Penderecki as well as the Bruckner Orchester Linz with Gerd Albrecht. In September 2007 Danjulo Ishizaka had his debut at the Lucerne Festival. In addition, he has been chosen for the renowned "New Generation Artists scheme" of the BBC, providing him not only with numerous studio recordings for the BBC but also solo appearances with the five BBC Symphony Orchestras, the Proms and a debut recital at Wigmore Hall.

In 2008 Ishizaka will perform a series of concerts with the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of Valery Gergiev and tours with the Zurich Chamber Orchestra with Baiba Skride. Further more Mr. Ishizaka will join Maxim Vengerov and Markus Schirmer for chamber music tours including his debut at the Concertgebouw Amsterdam.

Danjulo Ishizaka is supported by the Kronberg Academy which also provides him with the W. Schnabl cello, formerly played by Boris Pergamenschikov. In addition, he plays the Stradivarius cello from 1696, the Lord Aylesford, on loan to him from the Nippon Music Foundation.