Hideo Saito Memorial Fund Award for Cello Ayano Uemura and Gen Yokosaka to Perform in Concert Tuesday, March 24, 2026, Tokyo Bunka Kaikan, Small Hall

The Sony Music Foundation (Location: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President: Michinori Mizuno) will hold the "Tokyo Spring Music Festival: Concert by Ayano Uemura (cello) and Gen Yokosaka (cello) , Hideo Saito Hideo Memorial Fund Prize Recipients" on Tuesday, March 24, 2026 at the Tokyo Bunka Kaikan Small Hall (Taito-ku, Tokyo). The concert will be co-sponsored by the Tokyo Spring Music Festival Executive Committee.

Ayano Uemura, Gen Yokosaka (cello) / Kaoruko Igarashi (piano)

This concert is a special program featuring two cellists, Ayano Uemura (the 22nd winner of the Hideo Saito Memorial Fund Award* in the cello category) and Gen Yokosaka (the 7th winner of the Saito Memorial Fund Award). Both cellists, who have established solid reputations in Japan and abroad, will perform a program that will fully demonstrate the "expressive power of the cello instrument.

The pianist will be Kaoruko Igarashi, who has won numerous awards at the Geneva International Music Competition and other competitions, and in recent years has been making her presence felt both as a soloist and chamber musician.

*What is the Hideo Saito Memorial Fund Award?

Established in 2002 by the Sony Music Foundation. The award is named after Hideo Saito, a conductor and cellist who laid the foundation for classical music in Japan, and honors young cellists and conductors who have contributed to the development of music and artistic culture and are expected to play an active role in the future. To date, many cellists and conductors have received the award, and many musicians who are active in Japan and abroad have been produced.

https://www.smf.or.jp/saitohideo/

The program is a soloistic program that brings out the charm of each player and the ensemble. From a cello-piano duet, to a duet with two cellos, to a trio with two cellos and piano, this one-night-only concert is rich in variation and density.

Tickets will go on sale on Sunday, February 1, 2026 at 10:00.

Concert Outline

◆Title

Tokyo Spring Music Festival: Concert by Ayano Kamimura (cello) and Gen Yokosaka (cello), recipients of the Saito Hideo Memorial Fund Award

◆Date, time and place

Tuesday, March 24, 2026, 19:00 Concert begins (doors open at 18:30)

Tokyo Bunka Kaikan Small Hall (5-45 Ueno Koen, Taito-ku, Tokyo)

◆Performances

*Profile: https://www.atpress.ne.jp/releases/571172/att_571172_1.pdf

UEMURA Ayano (cello) <22nd Hideo Saito Memorial Fund Award 2023

Gen Yokosaka (Cello) ＜The 7th Hideo Saito Memorial Fund Award 2008

Kaoruko Igarashi (Piano)

Scheduled to be performed

Klein (arr. Darmstadt): "6 Sonatas for 2 Cellos" from "6 Sonatas for 2 Cellos", op.2, No.1, short.

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 No.1 in D minor from op.2

Brahms (arr. N. Salter-D. Geringas): "Six Romances

Brahms : Cello Sonata No.1 in E minor, op.38

Dvořák : "Moravian Duets" from "Moravian Duets

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 (2 cellos version)

Offenbach : "Duet for two cellos

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 No.2 in A minor from "Duet for 2 Cellos" op.53

Shostakovich (arr. Atovmyan): "Five Pieces

The program and performers are subject to change.

Ticket Information (All seats reserved, tax included)

4,500 yen

U-25: 2,000 yen *Available to those who are 25 years old or younger on the day of the performance (seat selection is not available).

Net Seats: 1,500 yen (Preview available on the Tokyo Spring Music Festival LIVE Streaming website)

◆Sale Date

February 1, 2026 (Sun.) 10:00 -

*U25 tickets go on sale on February 13, 2026 (Fri.) 12:00

Online seats will go on sale on February 20, 2026 (Fri.) 12:00

◆Ticket handling

Tokyo Spring Music Festival Online Ticket Service

URL: https://www.tokyo-harusai.com/

Tokyo Bunka Kaikan Ticket Service

TEL: 03-5685-0650 (10:00 - 18:00 *except for holidays)

Ticket Pia

URL： https://w.pia.jp/t/harusai/

URL for details

https://www.tokyo-harusai.com/program_info/2026_kamimura_yokosaka/

◆Organizer/Inquiries

Tokyo Spring Music Festival Support Desk

TEL：050-3496-0202 (Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and ticket sales days 10:00-14:00)

Sony Music Foundation

TEL：03-3515-5261 (Weekdays 10:00-18:00)

Outline of the Foundation

Name: Sony Music Foundation

President: Michinori Mizuno

Establishment: October 2, 1984

Location: SME Rokubancho Building, 4-5 Rokubancho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-8353, Japan

URL : https://www.smf.or.jp/