Profile
HORIGOME Yuzuko(Japan)
Jury Chairperson, Violin Section
Yuzuko Horigome rose to international prominence in 1980 as the first Japanese violinist to win the prestigious Queen Elisabeth Competition. Her musical journey began at the age of five under the guidance of Ryosaku Kubota, and she further refined her artistry under Toshiya Eto starting in 1975. Upon graduating from the Toho Gakuen School of Music in 1980, her triumph in Brussels propelled her into a distinguished global career that has spanned over four decades.
Since her debut, Horigome has performed with the world’s most venerable orchestras, including the Berlin Philharmonic, London Symphony Orchestra, and Chicago Symphony Orchestra. She has collaborated with a pantheon of legendary conductors, such as Claudio Abbado, Seiji Ozawa, and Sir Simon Rattle.
A sought-after guest at preeminent international festivals, she has been featured at the Marlboro Music Festival, Gidon Kremer’s Lockenhaus Chamber Music Festival, Progetto Martha Argerich in Lugano, and the Flanders Festival. As a dedicated chamber musician, she has shared the stage with such fellow masters as Rudolf Serkin, Martha Argerich, Mischa Maisky, and Nobuko Imai.
Deeply moved by the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, Horigome demonstrated her commitment to social resonance by organizing the “Reconstruction Concerts” in Brussels, which were staged annually for a decade to support recovery efforts in her homeland.
Her dedication to nurturing the next generation of musicians is equally profound. Following her distinguished tenures as a Professor at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels (until 2024) and the Maastricht Conservatorium (until 2025), she continues to inspire young talents through masterclasses across Italy, the UK, and France. She has been invited by prestigious international competitions such as Queen Elisabeth, Indianapolis, Montreal, and Tibor Varga, and has served as the Jury Chair for the violin section of the Sendai International Music Competition since 2016. Since 2024, she has also been a featured artist in the “Koyasan Conference” concert series, further expanding her artistic and cultural influence.