Mizuho Yoshii-Smith was principal oboist of the Mahler Chamber Orchestra from 2001 till 2022. Many of the finest European orchestras have also invited her to play as their guest principal oboist. She has worked closely with the conductors Claudio Abbado, Gunter Wand, Simon Rattle, Pierre Boulez, Seiji Ozawa and Nikolaus Harnoncourt. She is also an active chamber musician and soloist in her home country and abroad. 

Mizuho Yoshii-Smith is professor of oboe at Tokyo University of the Arts. She has also been invited to give masterclasses as guest professor at a variety of international music colleges including New York’s Manhattan School of Music, as well as colleges in the UK, Spain, Italy, Germany, Colombia and Venezuela. 

In 2013, the Bungei Shunjyu newspaper group selected Mizuho to represent the future of Japan as a leader in her field of expertise. In addition, she was awarded the 49th JXTG music prize in 2019.

Mizuho is the founder and artistic director of the Kamakura Resonance Concert Series, which has been active since 2015.