Kyoko Takezawa

Kyoko Takezawa won the first prize at the 51st Japan Music Competition while a music student at Toho Gakuen Music High School and was the overwhelming winner of the 2nd Indianapolis International Violin Competition in 1986. She has performed with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, Boston Symphony Orchestra, Montreal Symphony Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra, Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, and many renowned conductors including Kurt Masur, Zubin Mehta, Charles Dutoit, and Seiji Ozawa. Takezawa was invited to perform as soloist on a tour in Spain with Philharmonia Orchestra in 2011, a tour with Hamburg NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra in 2012, and on Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra’s 100th anniversary world tour in 2014, receiving high acclaim in cities such as Paris and London. During the 2018–2019 season, marking the 30th anniversary of her debut, she gave recitals in various locations that were well-received. Takezawa has also been involved in educational activities making use of her experience learning in the Talent Education Research Institute and has served as a jury member for many international competitions including the Menuhin Competition and the Long-Thibaud Competition. She has appeared at world-class music festivals such as Aspen and Lucerne, and recently participated in the Mito Chamber Orchestra, the Seiji Ozawa Matsumoto Festival, and the MUSIC FESTIVAL Argerich’s Meeting Point in Beppu (Beppu Argerich Music Festival). She is active across a wide range of fields, including concertos, chamber music, and recitals. Takezawa won the 3rd Idemitsu Music Award, Cultural Prize of the Aichi Prefecture Art and Culture Award, and the 78th Chunichi Cultural Award. Her instrument is the Antonio Stradivarius 1724. She is a professor at Tokyo College of Music, a specially appointed professor at Toho Gakuen School of Music.
Takezawa is a resident artist of “Shiiki presents Argerich’s Haus.”