【press release】

Kunitachi College of Music announces 2023 concert lineup

Kunitachi College of Music (located in Tachikawa City, President: Umemoto Minoru, hereafter referred to as "the University") has announced its concert lineup for 2023. The University hosts numerous concerts throughout the year as a venue for showcasing the fruits of its education, including concerts with ambitious programs including contemporary pieces and concerts featuring world-class maestros and soloists. The University also hosts "International Master Classes," which have attracted attention, offering students direct instruction from leading musicians and educators and lectures on their own compositions.
The university has an educational culture that values individual autonomy while fostering co-creation with peers, earning it the nickname "The Land of Ensemble."Concerts are a perfect embodiment of this education, and embody the university's educational philosophy of "cultivating conscientious musicians and educators."

Characteristics of Kunitachi College of Music of Music concerts

An ambitious program featuring world premieres of new commissioned works and arrangements

Every year, our university commissions new works from its faculty members. This provides a forum for faculty members to present their own compositions, and an opportunity for students to experience contemporary music and try new performance techniques and expressions. In 2023, Harumi Fuki, Composition instructor who is well known for her work on the music video for the NHK morning drama series "Maiagare!", will present a new work at the "Percussion Ensemble Regular Concert." Additionally, Motoharu Kawashima and Toshiya Watanabe, two prominent figures in the contemporary music scene, will present new works at the "Symphonic Wind Ensemble Regular Concert" and "What Can Be Heard and Communicated? From 20th Century Music to the Future," respectively.
In addition, the "Summer Concert 2023" will feature a male ensemble (original arrangements) of classical Italian songs sung solo.

Maximizing educational effectiveness through collaborations with renowned musicians

Our university provides opportunities to experience the latest trends in classical music from around the world through guest performances by a variety of conductors. In 2023, guest conductors will include Jun Märkl, who has conducted with world-renowned orchestras and is also a visiting professor at the university; Tetsuro Ban, who has been appointed artistic director of Biwako Hall; and Yukio Fujioka, who is also active in premieres of Japanese composers. The experience gained by performing with such different types of first-class conductors is invaluable for students. One of the joys of being in a student orchestra is enjoying the potential that is brought out in students by the conductor's unique style.

Students also benefit greatly from performing with first-class soloists. The Brass Orchestra Regular Concert, featuring a saxophone quartet led by newly appointed saxophone professor Yasuto Tanaka, along with Masato Kumoi, Kuninobu Bando, and Wataru Sato, is a must-see. In October, the annual Graduate School Opera will be held. Only our university's extensive facilities allow for opera performances with a full orchestra and a full-scale stage set. Performances with up-and-coming soloists who are graduates of our university are also worth listening to. A concert of Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 is scheduled for December, featuring faculty members Tomomi Ishigami, Asako Yoda, Takumi Yogi, and Hiroyuki Narita.
In addition to performing with soloists, students also have the opportunity to perform with faculty and alumni who are members of orchestras primarily based in Tokyo. Students regularly perform alongside professional musicians in close proximity, and this experience of seeing and hearing their techniques and expressions up close provides an opportunity for significant growth. The educational benefits of this experience are immeasurable.

Performance by students selected through auditions

The Solo and Chamber Music Concerts and Composition Exhibitions are performances by talented performers and composers, with students selected through on-campus auditions. These are excellent learning opportunities for students to demonstrate the results of their daily work and pursue their own musical expression.

<In addition to the performance, enjoy the performance even more with a variety of lectures and pre-performance talks>
To make concerts even more enjoyable, the university offers special lectures and pre-performance talks by faculty members, a unique opportunity for an educational institution. These range from lectures to gain a deeper understanding of the works being performed, to pre-performance talks in which directors and faculty members who supervise the students talk about the works to be performed. The university also invites guest lecturers active around the world to give Masterclass to students in the International Master Class, allowing students to closely observe the type of instruction given by world-renowned musicians and how the students respond.

Fun and participation for all generations

The popular annual "Kunitachi Kunitachi College of Music Concert for Parents and Children" is a concert open to preschoolers, unique to our university, which has Music Education for Early Childhood. The Conductor Experience, where students can receive a lecture from a conductor and experience the coveted task of conducting an orchestra, is a popular event that transcends generations. Other events include the popular annual "Musical Performance" and the "Basic Orchestra Concert," where you can casually enjoy famous orchestral pieces, both of which are held free of charge and enjoyed by the local community.

Both concerts are packed with fascinating programs and a variety of guest performers. Don't miss this opportunity to enjoy the sounds of "Ensemble Kunitachi."
As a specialized educational institution for music, our university will continue to provide high-quality and ambitious concert programs and contribute to the "development of culture in Japan and around the world," which is our fundamental philosophy.

• Kunitachi College of Music Official Website (Concert and Event Information)

*Please note that due to unavoidable circumstances, the program, performers, venue, date and time may change, and the concert may be limited to a limited audience.
The latest information regarding concerts and other events will be posted on our university website.

Concert inquiries

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