Unai Sánchez (2001, Bilbao) trained in Bilbao, Madrid, and San Sebastián with professors María Casado, Asier Polo, and Pavel Gomziakov. He is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Performance at the HfMDK Frankfurt with Prof. Jan Ickert, while simultaneously expanding his knowledge of Baroque music with Prof. Kristin von der Goltz.
As a chamber musician, he has studied with professors Sciammarella, Mercero, Bossier, and Staemmler, and is currently part of Prof. Merkle’s class.
IIn 2023, he was selected as a recipient of the Deutschlandstipendium (sponsored by the Oscar and Vera Ritter Foundation), and in 2024 the arteMusica Stiftung decided to continue supporting his studies. In addition, the Rotary Club Offenbach-Dreieich supports Unai as a young artist in the Hesse region. In 2024 and 2025, he was awarded a scholarship from the Provincial Council of Bizkaia to pursue his Master’s studies. That same year, together with Unison Trio, he was selected as an artist in the Yehudi Menuhin Live Music Now program, and in 2025 as a duo alongside Byeongchan Ha.
He has furthered his studies with internationally renowned cellists, including J. Schwab, A. Karttunen, R. Pidoux, E. van Poucke, X. Gagnepain, R. Lester, and M. Mostert. His talent has been recognized with several awards, such as an Honorable Mention in the Basque Country Young Musicians Competition, the ex aequo Grand Prix at the Festival4Arts International Strings Competition, and Second Prize at the International Mozart Competition Vienna. With the chamber music project Dúo Arriaga, he was a finalist in the II International Ciutat de Manises Competition and in the 2024 Antón García Abril International Competition.
As a soloist, he has performed with various orchestras and has participated in numerous festivals across Europe, giving solo, duo, and chamber music concerts, and performing alongside musicians such as Hans Christian Aavik, Karolina Aavik, Claire Wells, Anastasia Vorotnaya, Weronika J. Dziadek, Maximilian Hörmeyer, Deva Mira Sperandio, and Diana Sahakyan. He also maintains a strong social commitment, collaborating with organizations such as ESAS (Network of Women Artists and Creators), Yehudi Menuhin Live Music Now, and Fundación SGAE.
Unai plays an Alessandro Ciciliati cello (Ferrara, Italy, 2023), generously loaned by the Instrumentum Foundation, as well as a bow by Thomas Acker, provided by a private donor.
UNAI SÁNCHEZ 