Kobe International Flute Competition

About The Competition

The Kobe International Flute Competition is widely recognized as one of the world’s most prestigious competitions devoted exclusively to the flute. Held every four years in Kobe, Japan, it brings together many of the finest young flutists from around the globe to compete before a distinguished international jury.

A proud member of the World Federation of International Music Competitions (WFIMC), the competition is renowned for its exceptional artistic standards, rigorous selection process, and international reputation. The final round, performed with orchestra, provides competitors with the opportunity to demonstrate both technical mastery and artistic maturity at the highest professional level.

Since its founding in 1985, the competition has played an important role in launching international careers. Its list of laureates includes many distinguished soloists, orchestral principal flutists, chamber musicians, and educators who have gone on to shape the contemporary flute world.

Among them are Emmanuel Pahud, Mathieu Dufour, Amy Porter, Andrea Oliva, Denis Bouriakov, Sebastian Jacot, Mathilde Calderini, Hélène Boulègue, Mario Bruno, Riccardo Cellacchi, and Fabian Johannes Egger, reflecting the competition’s remarkable legacy of artistic excellence.

Beyond its substantial prize fund, the Kobe International Flute Competition offers valuable career opportunities through concert engagements, international recognition, and exposure to presenters, orchestras, and audiences worldwide. Its combination of history, prestige, distinguished juries, and outstanding laureates has firmly established Kobe as one of the highest achievements for young professional flutists.

2025 Competition Highlights

• 357 applications were received from 41 countries and regions, demonstrating the competition’s global reach.
• 39 competitors representing 17 countries were invited to the live rounds in Kobe.
• The competition concluded with a shared First Prize and shared Third Prize, reflecting the exceptionally high artistic level of the finalists.
• The Final Round featured performances with orchestra before an international jury composed of some of today’s most respected flutists and pedagogues.

Laureates of Previous Competitions

2025
🥇 Fabian Egger (Germany) – 1st Prize (shared)
🥇 Riccardo Cellacchi (Italy) – 1st Prize (shared)
🥉 Brina Unuk (Slovenia) – 3rd Prize (shared)
🥉 Tohko Fujino (Japan) – 3rd Prize (shared)
4th – Anna Komarova (Russia)
5th – Franziska Anne Fundelić (Croatia/Germany)

Special Award — Calvin Mayman (United States)

2022
🥇 Mario Bruno (Italy) – 1st Prize
🥇 Rafael Adobas Bayog (Spain) – 1st Prize
🥉 Ishii Kie (Japan) – 3rd Prize
🥉 Marianna Julia Żołnacz (Poland) – 3rd Prize
5th – Anna Komarova (Russia)
6th – Joidy Blanco (Venezuela)

2017
🥇 Hélène Boulègue (France) – 1st Prize
🥇 Yan Yu (China) – 1st Prize
🥉 Anna Kondrashina (Russia) – 3rd Prize
🥉 Marianna Julia Żołnacz (Poland) – 3rd Prize
🥉 Yeojin Han (South Korea) – 3rd Prize
4th – Mayuko Akimoto (Japan)

2013
🥇 Mathilde Calderini (France) – 1st Prize
🥇 Sebastian Jacot (Switzerland) – 1st Prize
🥉 Adriana Ferreira (Portugal) – 3rd Prize
🥉 Ai Takeyama (Japan) – 3rd Prize
5th – Timea Acsai (Hungary)
6th – Mariko Hamasaki (Japan)

2009
🥇 Daniela Koch (Austria) – 1st Prize
🥈 Loïc Schneider (France) – 2nd Prize
4th – Megan Emigh (USA)
5th – Alessandra Russo (Italy)
6th – Mariya Semotyuk-Schlaffke (Ukraine)

2005
🥇 Andrea Oliva (Italy) – 1st Prize
🥇 Yuki Koyama (Japan) – 1st Prize
🥉 Ayako Takagi (Japan) – 3rd Prize
🥉 Sarah Rumer (Switzerland) – 3rd Prize
5th – Ikue Koike (Japan)
6th – Christian Farroni (Italy)
6th – Reina Watanabe (Japan)

2001
🥇 Sarah Louvion (France) – 1st Prize
🥈 Sabine Morel (France) – 2nd Prize
🥉 Dóra Seres (Hungary) – 3rd Prize
4th – Kazushi Saito (Japan)
5th – Denis Bouriakov (Russia)
6th – Kazunori Seo (Japan)

1997
🥇 Kersten McCall (Germany) – 1st Prize
🥈 Mathieu Dufour (France) – 2nd Prize
🥉 Henrik Wiese (Germany) – 3rd Prize
4th – Gergely Márk Bodoky (Hungary)
5th – Tatjana Ruhland (Germany)
6th – Davide Formisano (Italy)

1993
🥈 Amy Porter (USA) – 2nd Prize
🥈 Andrea Lieberknecht (Germany) – 2nd Prize
🥉 Emily Beynon (United Kingdom) – 3rd Prize
5th – Yoshiaki Teramoto (Japan)
6th – Eyal Ein-Habar (Israel)

1989
🥇 Emmanuel Pahud (France) – 1st Prize
🥇 Petri Alanko (Finland) – 1st Prize
🥉 Irén Moré (Hungary) – 3rd Prize
4th – Stephanie Hamburger (Germany)
5th – David Fedele (USA)
6th – Young-Ji Song (South Korea)

1985
🥇 Arife Gülşen Tatu (Turkey) – 1st Prize
🥈 Yumiko Sakuma (Japan) – 2nd Prize
🥉 Vicenç Prats (France) – 3rd Prize