Makito Nishiya ，Cello
Born in Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture, he embarked on his musical journey at the age of 5 under the tutelage of Takao Mizushima at the Suzuki Method Headquarters in Matsumoto. Following his family's relocation to Nara when he was 8, he continued his cello studies under the late Mr. Minoru Sugiyama and Mr. Kenji Morita in Osaka, traveling there every weekend due to the absence of Suzuki Method classes in Nara.
Upon entering Nara Prefectural High School, his musical interests diversified briefly as he explored rock and electric guitar within a band. However, a transformative encounter with a professor from the Moscow Conservatory during his first year of high school redirected his focus back to the cello, setting him on the path to becoming a professional cellist.
Subsequently, he pursued higher education at the Faculty of Music, Tokyo University of the Arts, where he studied for six years under the guidance of Fumiaki Kono and Tomoya Kikuchi, culminating in his completion of graduate school.
Seeking further artistic growth, he ventured to the United States after graduate school, enrolling at Indiana University and completing the Performer Diploma Course in 2004 under the mentorship of Tsuyoshi Tsutsumi and Janos Starker. His dedication to mastery saw him attend masterclasses with esteemed cellists such as Yo-Yo Ma, David Geringas, Valentin Fagin, Hakuro Mouri, and Noboru Uemura.
In the realm of chamber music, he refined his skills under the mentorship of Keiko Urushibara, Ichiro Nodaira, Masami Tanamura, Shigeo Neriki, Iqwan Bey, and Federico Agostini.
Returning to Japan in 2005 after three and a half years abroad, he joined the Hyogo Performing Arts Center Orchestra, renowned as the Hyogo PAC Orchestra, under the baton of conductor Yutaka Sado. His talent and dedication were recognized when he was selected as the No. 1 artist at the Hyogo Performing Arts Center One Coin Concert in 2008, where he held a memorable recital.
Throughout his career, he has showcased his artistry as a concerto soloist with esteemed conductors and ensembles, including Kazuyoshi Akiyama, Tadaaki Otaka, Yutaka Sado, Yasuko Otani String Quartet, and Ryota Komatsu's Tango Band. His versatility extends to various musical genres, from chamber ensembles to the hard string ensemble "Ishida-gumi" and participation in the Kirishima International Music Festival.
In 2013, he collaborated with pianist Shigeo Neriki for recitals in Tokyo and Kyoto, garnering acclaim and earning the prestigious 2013 Aoyama Music Award. Venturing into new musical territories, he formed the unit "shimizunishiya" in 2015 with Yasuaki Shimizu, principal violinist of the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra, debuting with the CD "KODO," featuring original compositions and arrangements.
Having served as a part-time lecturer at Tokyo University of the Arts from 2008 to 2016 and as the principal cellist of the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra from 2008 to 2019, he now pursues an independent path, pushing the boundaries of musical expression across genres, from classical to jazz, tango, pops, and original compositions.
Upon entering Nara Prefectural High School, his musical interests diversified briefly as he explored rock and electric guitar within a band. However, a transformative encounter with a professor from the Moscow Conservatory during his first year of high school redirected his focus back to the cello, setting him on the path to becoming a professional cellist.
Subsequently, he pursued higher education at the Faculty of Music, Tokyo University of the Arts, where he studied for six years under the guidance of Fumiaki Kono and Tomoya Kikuchi, culminating in his completion of graduate school.
Seeking further artistic growth, he ventured to the United States after graduate school, enrolling at Indiana University and completing the Performer Diploma Course in 2004 under the mentorship of Tsuyoshi Tsutsumi and Janos Starker. His dedication to mastery saw him attend masterclasses with esteemed cellists such as Yo-Yo Ma, David Geringas, Valentin Fagin, Hakuro Mouri, and Noboru Uemura.
In the realm of chamber music, he refined his skills under the mentorship of Keiko Urushibara, Ichiro Nodaira, Masami Tanamura, Shigeo Neriki, Iqwan Bey, and Federico Agostini.
Returning to Japan in 2005 after three and a half years abroad, he joined the Hyogo Performing Arts Center Orchestra, renowned as the Hyogo PAC Orchestra, under the baton of conductor Yutaka Sado. His talent and dedication were recognized when he was selected as the No. 1 artist at the Hyogo Performing Arts Center One Coin Concert in 2008, where he held a memorable recital.
Throughout his career, he has showcased his artistry as a concerto soloist with esteemed conductors and ensembles, including Kazuyoshi Akiyama, Tadaaki Otaka, Yutaka Sado, Yasuko Otani String Quartet, and Ryota Komatsu's Tango Band. His versatility extends to various musical genres, from chamber ensembles to the hard string ensemble "Ishida-gumi" and participation in the Kirishima International Music Festival.
In 2013, he collaborated with pianist Shigeo Neriki for recitals in Tokyo and Kyoto, garnering acclaim and earning the prestigious 2013 Aoyama Music Award. Venturing into new musical territories, he formed the unit "shimizunishiya" in 2015 with Yasuaki Shimizu, principal violinist of the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra, debuting with the CD "KODO," featuring original compositions and arrangements.
Having served as a part-time lecturer at Tokyo University of the Arts from 2008 to 2016 and as the principal cellist of the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra from 2008 to 2019, he now pursues an independent path, pushing the boundaries of musical expression across genres, from classical to jazz, tango, pops, and original compositions.
| Official website | http://nishiyamakito.com |
|---|---|
| Makito Nishitani |
photo credit
©Daisuke Yamagishi