The German-Japanese cellist Danjulo Ishizaka attracted attention at a young age by winning numerous international competitions, including first prizes at the international Gaspar Cassado competition 1998, the international Lutoslawski competition 1999, the renowned international ARD competition in Munich in 2001 as well as the Grand Prix Emanuel Feuermann in Berlin 2002 including the Reger special prize.

The cellist's earlier concerts took him to the Berlin Philharmonic at the age of 17. He finally made his debut at the Musikverein in Vienna in 2003, at the Suntory Hall in Tokyo in 2004, at the Carnegie Hall in New York in 2006, at the Royal Albert Hall in London in 2008 and at the Royal Festival Hall in London in 2010.

He studied at the Hanns Eisler Academy of Music in Berlin from 1998 until 2004 with Boris Pergamenschikow followed by studies with Tabea Zimmermann from 2004 to 2006. In addition, he has been profoundly influenced by Bernhard Greenhouse, Michael Denhoff, György Kurtág, Menahem Pressler and the Amadeus-Quartet.

Mstislav Rostropovich supported Danjulo Ishizaka in the last phase of his life by repeatedly inviting him to concerts under his direction and giving him lessons in personal consultations - Danjulo Ishizaka is probably one of the last to receive lessons directly from him.

In 2007-2008 Danjulo Ishizaka was selected for BBC Radio 3's New Generation Artists scheme, which included numerous radio productions solo, with piano, with the five BBC symphony orchestras as well as a debut recital at Wigmore Hall London and with the BBC Proms, the largest classical music festival in London.

His debut CD album with Sony BMG recorded with pianist Martin Helmchen was awarded with the “Echo Klassik” award of the German Phonographic Academy in 2006. In 2012 Danjulo was honored with the Hideo Saito Memorial Fund Award, one of Japan’s biggest music awards, presented by the Sony Music Foundation. In 2014, he was awarded the Gramophone Award for the Chamber Music Recording of the Year.

Danjulo Ishizaka regularly gives concerts in Europe, the USA, China, Russia and Japan and appears with the most renowned artists, conductors and orchestras and is a welcome guest at important festivals.

Danjulo Ishizaka is an official Larsen Artist, Professor of Violoncello at the City of Basel Music Academy and the Berlin University of the Arts (UDK Berlin). He plays on a cello jointly handcrafted by Domenico Montagnana and Giovanni Battista Rogeri.