Leo Kubota

Leo Kubota started studying the cello with Professor Thomas Landschoot when he was 10 years old. He is currently studying with Professor Paul Watkins in the five-year Bachelor of Arts/Master of Music program at Yale University.

Most recently, Leo was a semi-finalist at the Leos Janacek International Cello competition where he was awarded for the best performance of the Kodaly Capriccio. As a soloist, Leo has performed with the Phoenix Symphony, the Montecito International Festival Orchestra, and the FOOSA Philharmonic after winning their respective concerto competitions. He recently was one of seven national finalists in the MTNA National Senior String Competition. He has also won top prizes at National YoungArts Competition, Phoenix Youth Symphony Concerto Competition, and Arizona Cello Society Competition, among others. Leo has twice earned First Prize at the Arizona Musicfest Young Musicians Competitions, both as a soloist and as a member of The Kubota Duo, a violin and cello duo with his sister Rina.

He has attended several music festivals, including Bowdoin International Music Festival, Vivace-e! Matera, Cincinnati Young Artists, Meadowmount School of Music, and Madeline Island Chamber Music. He has also been given the opportunity to play in masterclasses for Edward Arron, Natasha Brofsky, Lynn Harrell, Hans Jensen, Christine Lamprea, Trio Solisti, and David Ying.

Before starting the cello, Leo played piano for 5 years. He won several awards, including First Prize and the Emily Butcher Outstanding Performance Award in the Young Artist Piano Competition and an Honorable Mention at the Russian Music International Piano Competition in San Jose, CA. His former teachers include Dr. Alex Zheng, Dr. Yali Luo, and Ms. Manuela Pagano.

Besides music, he finds joy in nature. He enjoys building and maintaining ecosystems full of aquatic plants and breeds dwarf shrimp in them— it has been one of his most rewarding hobbies over the past years.

WITH GAP YEARS IN PLACE, LEO WILL NOW BE GRADUATING in 2027 for his bachelor’s and 2028 for his Masters.