Royal Scottish National Orchestra Appoints New Sub-principal Cellist

Cellist Yuuki Bouterey-Ishido will begin the role as of May 2024

Cellist Yuuki Bouterey-Ishido has officially joined the Royal Scottish National Orchestra (RSNO) as its new Sub-Principal Cello following a period of audition and trial.

During the appointment process, Bouterey-Ishidohas performed with the RSNO including on its tour across Europe with music director Thomas Søndergård and violinist Ray Chen earlier this year. 

Hailing from New Zealand, Bouterey-Ishido began cello lessons at age six with Galyna Zelinska. At age 14, he was invited to study at London’s Purcell School of Music. 

He also attended the International Menuhin Music Academy in Switzerland, where his mentors included Natalia Pavlutskaya, Pal Banda, Niall Brown, and Pablo de Naveran.

Recently, he completed a Master of Arts degree from London’s Royal Academy of Music (RAM), where he was awarded RAM’s prestigious Diploma for his final recital performance. 

Bouterey-Ishido was the winner of the 2018 Sir John Barbirolli Cello Prize, and prizewinner at the New Zealand National Concerto, and 2017 Gisborne International Music Competitions.

He has since given solo recitals in Japan, Italy, and New Zealand, and toured Europe across three years as a member of the Menuhin Academy Soloists under the direction of Maxim Vengerov. He currently performs as a member of the Trio Kagura.

“I am delighted and honored to be joining the RSNO’s wonderful cello section,” Bouterey-Ishido said in the press release. “They have been incredibly warm and welcoming, and I am very much looking forward to many exciting concerts and projects to come!”

Bouterey-Ishido will begin his new role playing in RSNO’s Rachmaninov Two concerts on May 17 and 18, 2024, at the Usher Hall and Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, respectively.