Celebrating Airi Sunada's Achievement: The 4th Nojima Award Ceremony Announcement

Airi Sunada Awarded the 4th Nojima Award

We are excited to announce that Airi Sunada, a talented soprano, has been selected as the recipient of the 4th Nojima Award. This prestigious award was established by Tokyo University of the Arts in 2023 to honor the legacy of the late Professor Minoru Nojima, who made significant contributions as a performer and educator in the music world. The award recognizes exceptional achievements in the academic or performance activities of current students and recent graduates of the university, particularly those under 35 years of age, who have elevated the university's prestige.

The award ceremony will take place on May 25, 2026, at 5:30 PM (doors open at 5:00 PM) in TCM Hall located within the Nakameguro-Daikanyama campus of Tokyo University of the Arts. Attendees will be welcomed on a first-come, first-served basis (free admission, no prior application required) for the first 100 guests. This ceremony promises to be an inspiring event celebrating remarkable talent and artistry within the music community.

Ceremony Schedule

The award ceremony's program will include the following:
1. Opening Remarks
2. Message from the President of the University
3. Presentation of Awards and Medals
4. Presentation of Additional Prizes
5. Acceptance Speech from the Awardee
6. Performance by the Awardee
7. Message from the Awardee to Future Generations
8. Closing Remarks

Airi Sunada's Profile

Airi Sunada is a graduate of both the Tokyo University of the Arts and its graduate school, specializing in vocal performance and opera studies. She has also completed the Opera Training Program at the New National Theatre Tokyo. During her studies, she received the ANA Scholarship, enabling her to train at the prestigious La Scala Academy in Milan and the Bavarian State Opera Training Center.

Sunada is a recipient of various accolades, including the 1st prize and the Iwatani Prize at the 94th Japan Music Competition in 2025. She has also earned top positions and audience awards in several music competitions, including the 2nd prize at the 4th Juditta Pasta International Vocal Competition in Italy and the 1st prize at the International Vocal Competition for the Milan Concorso.

Her professional debut occurred in Italy at the Sassari City Opera as Norina in “Don Pasquale” and since then, she has continued to perform in leading roles in productions across various Italian venues, such as “Rigoletto,” “La Traviata,” and “La Bohème.” In Japan, she has captivated audiences with performances at prominent venues like the Nissay Theatre and New National Theatre Tokyo. She has collaborated with renowned orchestras including NHK, Tokyo Symphony, and Japan Philharmonic.

In the near future, she is set to perform as Sophie in the New National Theatre's