GWC IV
~ Judge Profiles
Romu Aoyagi - Judge
Romu Aoyagi is a renowned whistling champion, celebrated for his exceptional skill and musicality. He graduated from the Department of Musical Creativity and the Graduate School of Music at Tokyo University of the Arts, where he studied music production, music education, and vocal performance.
Aoyagi's musical journey began at the age of five with violin lessons through the Suzuki Method. Although he explored various instruments, he was captivated by the vibrant and resonant tones of whistling, a talent he cultivated from a young age. In 2014, he made history at the 41st International Whistlers Convention (IWC) by becoming the youngest Japanese male to win the Grand Champion title.
In 2017, Aoyagi's remarkable technique and musicality earned him first place in the inaugural "Mezamashi Classics Extreme Techniques Championship" with his whistling performance. His appearance on the popular TV show "The World Unknown to Matsuko" in 2018 garnered significant attention, further establishing his reputation. That same year, he performed with the Super Orchestra under the baton of Maestro Yukihito Kobayashi.
Aoyagi has also contributed to numerous soundtracks as a studio musician, including for NHK's drama series "Toto Neechan." He continually explores new possibilities for whistling, incorporating live electronics and forming the innovative ensemble "AOI" with shamisen and piano.
Since 2020, Romu Aoyagi has served as a judge for the Global Whistling Championship. His extensive training, innovative performances, and dedication to the art of whistling make him a highly esteemed judge, bringing invaluable expertise and insight to the competition.
Ayna Ziordia Botella – Judge
Ayna Ziordia, from Navarra, Spain, began whistling at the age of five and later moved to Barcelona to continue developing her craft. In 2023, she won 1st place at the Masters of Whistling in Hollywood, an achievement that opened new doors for her artistic career.
Since then, Ayna has explored new creative paths, including voice work and film collaborations. She was the protagonist of the documentary “Whistle,” selected at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), and took part in the Oscar-nominated film “Robot Dreams” by Pablo Berger as a dubbing artist.
Her performances have taken her to a variety of stages, such as El Palau de la Música Catalana in Barcelona for Marc Giró’s program “És Nadal al món” (Rac1), and the Circo Price Theater in Madrid, where she performed at the Inverfest Festival as a guest of Fetén Fetén. Ayna also had the opportunity to perform in three concerts with the Metropole Orkest during Movie Night, conducted by Jules Buckley, at the Ziggo Dome in Amsterdam.
Additionally, she has collaborated with Samuel Sené, musical director at Disneyland Paris, further expanding her artistic horizons.
Ayna continues to refine her unique approach to whistled music, blending precision and emotion to bring this expressive form to new audiences worldwide.
Alex Pinto – Judge, 2024 GWC Champion
Alex Pinto is a professional trumpet player, whistler, singer, and dedicated teacher.
As a whistler, Alex has a successful TikTok page (superpintobean) where he shares creative projects, mostly focused on whistled a cappella arrangements and covers of the music of J.S. Bach. Alex has given lessons on whistling and posts popular tutorials on his TikTok page. Alex has whistled for gigs and can improvise and perform whistling in many styles.
Yuki Takeda – Judge, Organizer
Yuki Takeda is a World Champion Whistler, multi-instrumentalist, and multilingual vocalist celebrated for developing whistling as a serious musical artform. A four-time world champion in self-accompanied whistling (“hikifuki”) — 2019, 2023, 2024, and 2025 — he has earned top honors at the Masters of Musical Whistling (USA) and the World Whistlers Convention (Japan), and the International Whistlers Convention (USA).
A featured TEDx performer and protagonist of the 2025 documentary WHISTLE (Dir. Christopher Nelius; premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and DOC NYC), Yuki is also the co-author of “口笛のはなし” (Let’s Talk About Whistling) with award-winning writer Hazuki Saisho, published in 2025. He has been interviewed by NHK, TBS, TOKYO FM, and J-WAVE, and featured widely across Japanese and international media.
Yuki is co-founder of the International Whistlers Guild and the Global Whistling Championship, the first global online whistling competition. He has given workshops and masterclasses across the U.S., Japan, India, Slovenia, and worldwide online, and has spoken at and organized multiple Whistling Symposiums at the World Whistlers Convention. Yuki is currently the only online whistling tutor who provides lessons globally in English.
As a multi-instrumentalist (acoustic guitar, Venezuelan cuatro, maracas, cajón, flute, alto saxophone) and vocalist, he bridges jazz, Latin, pop, and classical styles. He performs solo, with pianists such as Takehiro Chiba and Mirai Kuge, and with groups including the Venezuelan music trio Soplo Criollo. He has collaborated with Latin Grammy winners Jorge Glem, as well as the legendary South American musicians Cheo Hurtado, and David Peña, with whom he released the duo album Cuerdas al Viento in 2025. His online performances have reached audiences of millions worldwide.