New Zealand-born cellist Matthias Balzat (1999) has gained recognition as an international soloist and chamber musician. He has won first and second prizes in many prestigious competitions, including the Schoenfeld International Cello Competition (China), Accordi Musicali International Cello Competition (Italy), 69th ROSL Annual Music Competition (UK), Sieghardt-Rometsch Concerto Competition (Germany), and the National Concerto Competition (NZ, twice). He has performed with leading orchestras such as the NZSO, Harbin Symphony Orchestra, Christchurch Symphony Orchestra, Sinfonietta Köln, and St. Matthews Chamber Orchestra, and collaborated with conductors including Jindong Chi, Guy Noble, Benjamin Northey and Rüdiger Bohn.

Balzat has appeared at major festivals like Aspen Music Festival, Classiche Forme, and Edinburgh Fringe. He has worked with renowned cellists, including Daniel Müller-Schott, Johannes Moser, and Wolfgang Schmidt. After completing his postgraduate studies at the Robert Schumann Hochschule under Pieter Wispelwey, he now holds a Master's and Konzertexam degree, as well as a Bachelor's from Waikato University, which he began at the age of 14 under James Tennant.