About the Artist

First-Prize winner of the Japan National Music Competition in 1960, Ko Iwasaki studied cello with Hideo Saito. Aftergraduating from the Toho Music School in Japan, he continued his studies at the Juilliard School under Leonard Rose. In 1965 he made his New York debut in the
Young Concert Artists Series. Later, he studied with Harvey Shapiro and Pablo
Casals in Puerto Rico. He has won top prizes in numerous international cello
competitions such as the Vienna, Munich, Budapest, Cassado, and Tchaikovsky
competitions. 

In 1971, he received the Arts Minister Award for Young Artists and the Arts Festival
Record Prize for his performance of contemporary Japanese cello music. In 1972,
he made his European debut with the London Symphony Orchestra with Andre
Previn.

Since 1974, he has been based in the United States where he has performed both
as a soloist and as a chamber music player, as well as in Europe, the former Soviet
Union, and Japan. He is also a founder of the Tokyo Chamber Soloists and was a
director of the Okinawa Moon Beach Music Camp & Festival in Japan. Since 1995,
he has performed the entire cycle of Beethoven String Quartets as a member of the
Japan String Quartet.

He has taught at Illinois State University, University of Illinois and the Southern
Methodist University, and Toho School of Music. He also has been highly praised for
his master classes conducted at the Cleveland Institute of Music, the World Cello
Congress, universities and summer music festivals. He has been invited to serve as
a jury at many international competitions including the Cassado Cello Competition,
the Munich International Competition, and the Tchaikovsky Competition. Residing in
Dallas, Mr. Iwasaki continues to pursue an active concert career.