New Zealand-born cellist Matthias Balzat (b. 1999) has gained recognition as one of the most promising soloists and chamber musicians of his generation. A laureate of numerous international competitions, among them the Schoenfeld International Cello Competition, the ROSL Annual Music Competition, Accordi Musicali International Cello Competition, Sieghardt-Rometsch Concerto Competition and every major competition in New Zealand, he has established himself on major stages across Europe, Asia and the Pacific.
He has performed with orchestras all over the world including the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Harbin Symphony Orchestra, Dinu Lipatti Philharmonic Orchestra, Athens Philharmonia Orchestra, and Christchurch Symphony Orchestra, working with conductors such as Jindong Chi, Guy Noble, Benjamin Northey and Rüdiger Bohn.
Balzat began his undergraduate studies at the University of Waikato at the age of 14 under James Tennant, and subsequently completed postgraduate studies at the Robert Schumann Hochschule Düsseldorf under Pieter Wispelwey, where he earned both a Master's and the prestigious Konzertexam degree. He performs on a 2024 Beilharz cello.
Chamber music is central to his artistic life. As the newest member of NZTrio, he performs alongside violinist Amalia Hall and pianist Somi Kim on major stages across New Zealand and beyond.
Festival appearances have taken him to the Aspen Music Festival, Classiche Forme, Miesbach Chamber Music Festival, Edinburgh Fringe and Martinborough Music Festival, as well as At World’s Edge Festival later this year. He has worked with distinguished cellists including Daniel Müller-Schott, Jens Peter Maintz, Wen-Sinn Yang, Wolfgang Schmidt and Li-Wei Qin.