Jury

KANOH Etsuko

Japan/ Mezzo-soprano, Professor at the Kunitachi College of Music

After completing graduate studies at Tokyo University of the Arts, she studied at the Cologne University of Music in Germany and was engaged as a soloist with the Cologne Opera Studio. While appearing in numerous opera productions, including W.A. Mozart's “Le nozze di Figaro,” she has also made guest appearances at the Salzburg Festival, the Stuttgart State Opera, the Flanders Opera in Belgium, and the Dutch Rijksopera, performing in a wide range of repertoire from Baroque works to contemporary operas. 

In Japan, she has frequently appeared in operas at venues such as the New National Theatre Tokyo and Biwako Hall and has performed with major orchestras including the NHK Symphony Orchestra in symphonies by Mahler and Beethoven.  

She actively pursues solo recitals centered on German art songs. Her performance of Schubert and Schumann songs titled “Deathbed Songs” in the ‘Bouquet of Songs’ series at Kawaguchi Lilia Hall was selected as a participating performance in the 2015 Agency for Cultural Affairs Arts Festival. She has continued to give recitals, including “20th Century Songs based on Hölderlin Lieder” in March 2018 and “German Baroque Songs” in 2019. Her CD “Gedichte der Königin Maria Stuart / Schumann Späte Lider” won the Vocal Music category at the 51st Record Academy Awards. In 2021, she released her second album, “Alban Berg: Jugendlieder”. In recent years, she has continued to give recitals featuring Schubert songs. Alongside her performances, she has broadened her activities, serving as a navigator for NHK FM ‘Opera Fantastica’. She is also dedicated to supporting emerging singers, serving as a judge for competitions including the Japan Music Competition and, in 2023, the Seoul International Music Competition in South Korea. 

Recipient of the Arts Selection Award from the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology in 2019.
Professor at Kunitachi College of Music and its Graduate School. Part-time Lecturer at Ochanomizu University.