Cellist Danjulo Ishizaka, of German–Japanese heritage, attracted attention at an early age after winning the international Gaspar Cassadó, Lutosławski, and ARD competitions, as well as the Grand Prix Emanuel Feuermann. At the age of seventeen, he appeared with the Berlin Philharmonic, followed by debuts at the Musikverein in Vienna, Suntory Hall in Tokyo, and Carnegie Hall in New York.
He studied at the Hanns Eisler School of Music in Berlin with Boris Pergamenschikow, before continuing his studies with Tabea Zimmermann. In the final phase of his life, Mstislav Rostropovich supported Ishizaka by inviting him to perform under his baton and by giving him individual lessons.
Danjulo Ishizaka was selected for BBC Radio 3’s New Generation Artists scheme, which included productions with all five BBC symphony orchestras and his debut at the BBC Proms. Ishizaka’s debut CD, recorded with pianist Martin Helmchen for Sony BMG, was awarded the Echo Klassik Prize.
In 2012, he received the Hideo Saito Memorial Fund Award, one of Japan’s most prestigious music honours.
Danjulo Ishizaka is an official Larsen Artist and serves as Professor in Basel and Berlin. He plays a cello jointly crafted by Domenico Montagnana and Giovanni Battista Rogeri.