Hiroki Kasai has been performing the viola extensively across Europe, Asia, Australia, and the United States. He switched to the viola after a strong recommendation from Nobuko Imai, and currently studies with her at the Escuela Superior de Musica Reina Sofia in Madrid. He obtained his Bachelor’s degree from the Royal Academy of Music with first class honours under the tutelage of Rodney Friend. He has received further musical inspirations from Steven Isserlis, Kim Kashkashian, Aaron Rosand, Sir George Benjamin, Rainer Schmidt, James Ehnes, and Robert Levin.

As a soloist, he has appeared with orchestras in Europe, Asia, and America under the baton of conductor such as Ton Koopman. An avid chamber musician, he appeared as a chamber musician at prominent music festivals such as Marlboro, Pacific, Prussia Cove, Schleswig-Holstein, and Gstaad Menuhin Festivals, and collaborated with Midori, Lawrence Power, Thomas Riebl, Sayaka Shoji, Ivan Monighetti, Christoph Richter, and member of the Guarneri Quartet. Hiroki is also a scholar at the renowned chamber music academies, Villa Musica Rheinland-Pfalz, and the Seiji Ozawa International Academy in Switzerland. In February 2025, Hiroki will be touring the US and Canada as a member of the “Marlboro on Tour”. His solo and chamber music performances have been broadcasted by NPR (US), NDR (Germany) and RNE (Spain). 

First Round

• M. Reger: Suite for Viola Solo op. 131d No. 1
  • 1. Molto Sostenuto (4')
  • 2. Vivace (3')
• F. A. Hoffmeister: Viola Concerto in D major
  • 1. Allegro (8')
• J. S. Bach: Suite No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1008
  • 1. Prelude (4')
  • 2. Allemande (4')
• F. Schubert: Sonata A minor D 821 "Arpeggione"
  • 1. Allegro moderato (12')

Second Round

• P. Hindemith: Sonata (1939) for viola and piano (23')
  • 1. Breit, mit Kraft 
  • 2. Sehr lebhaft
  • 3. Phantasie. Sehr langsam, frei 
  • 4. Finale (mit zwei Variationen)
• J. Brahms: Viola Sonata No. 2 in E flat major op. 120 (20')
• P. Pujanek: Dentro (11')

Piano: UdK accompanist

Finale

• William Walton: Viola Concerto (27')
  • 1. Andante comodo
  • 2. Scherzo and trio
  • 3. Finale – allegro moderato