In 2025, Japanese cellist Yuya Mizuno made history as the first Asian musician to win First Prize in the cello category at the 76th Prague Spring International Music Competition, where he was also honored with four special prizes. Mizuno completed his Master’s degree at the Mozarteum University Salzburg under the tutelage of Clemens Hagen. Prior to that, he earned a Soloist Diploma from the Toho Gakuen School of Music, studying with Sumiko Kurata, and received further artistic guidance from Miklós Perényi at the Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music in Budapest. His performance career includes appearances at leading festivals such as the Budapest Spring Festival, Mozartwoche, Pacific Music Festival Sapporo, Takefu International Music Festival, and Chanel Pygmalion Days. Mizuno has participated in masterclasses with some of the world’s most renowned cellists, including Frans Helmerson, Ivan Monighetti, Miklós Perényi, David Geringas, and Mario Brunello. He has garnered numerous accolades in international competitions. In 2024, he won First Prize at the Enrico Mainardi Competition. He also received First Prize and the Audience Award at the 13th Tokyo Music Competition, as well as First Prize and four special prizes at the 89th Music Competition of Japan. As a soloist, Mizuno has performed with prominent orchestras such as the Deutsche Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, Slovak Philharmonic, Prague Symphony Orchestra, Tokyo Symphony Orchestra, Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, Japan Philharmonic Orchestra, Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra, Osaka Symphony Orchestra, and Kyoto Symphony Orchestra. He has been awarded scholarships and fellowships from distinguished institutions including the International Music Academy in Liechtenstein, the Dresden Music Festival, the Ezoe Memorial Recruit Foundation, and the Rohm Music Foundation. Mizuno is also a core member of the Japan National Orchestra, led by pianist Kyohei Sorita. His debut album, featuring Kodály’s Sonata for Solo Cello and Chopin’s Cello Sonata, was released in 2023. He performs on a 1710 Pietro Giacomo Rogeri cello, generously loaned by the Suntory Foundation for the Arts, and a bow by F. Tourte, on loan from the Sumino Collection.