Cello Recital: Wolfgang Emanuel Schmidt & Philipp Schmidt (15), Yukino Kaihara, piano

Programme:

• Works by Schumann, Fauré, Saint-Saëns, Shostakovich, Cassado and others.

Philipp Schmidt (15) received his first cello lessons from his father, and subsequently from Ulrich Voss. For the past three years, he has been taught by Sabine Andert with the support of Yehjin Chun. He has attended masterclasses with Prof. Josef Schwab, Prof. Stephan Forck, Prof. Peter Bruns and Prof. David Geringas.

Philipp performed as a prize-winner at the Märkische Musiktage with the Prussian Chamber Orchestra under Jürgen Bruns, as well as with the Gropius Quartet at the Montafoner Resonanzen. He was a member of the Berlin State Opera Children’s Orchestra and plays with the German String Philharmonic. Philipp has already won several prizes, including first prize at the national ‘Jugend Musiziert’ competition and at the International Kiel Music Competition.

He was awarded second prize at the ‘Flames’ International Competition in Paris in 2024, and in 2025 he received the Grand Prix at the International Music Competition of the Festival 4Arts in Romania.

In 2026, he won the Birmingham International Music Competition in his age category and was awarded first prize at the London Classical Music Competition. Since this year, he has been supported by the International Music Academy for the Promotion of Highly Talented Children and Young People and has already performed in concert at the Deutsche Oper Berlin and the Konzerthaus Berlin.

Wolfgang Emanuel Schmidt studied under David Geringas, Aldo Parisot and Mstislav Rostropovich. He was a prize-winner at the International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow and the winner of the German Music Competition. Wolfgang Emanuel Schmidt teaches at the Franz Liszt University of Music in Weimar and at the Kronberg Academy.

The pianist Yukino Kaihara was born in Hiroshima, Japan. She began her musical career there at an early age and attracted attention at international competitions such as the Chopin Competition. In 2018, she made her debut at Suntory Hall in Tokyo with Ravel’s Piano Concerto. As a prize-winner of the Tokyo Music Competition and following her successful participation in the Long-Thibaud-Crespin Competition in Paris, she has performed in recent years with orchestras such as the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra and the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra.

She studied with Kei Itoh in Tokyo, where she obtained her first degree with distinction, and is currently continuing her studies at the Berlin University of the Arts under Björn Lehmann.

Yukino Kaihara is in demand both as a soloist and chamber musician, as well as a piano accompanist. Since 2023, she has been teaching piano accompaniment at the Berlin University of the Arts.