【press release】
Kunitachi College of Music 100th Anniversary
"Kunion 100 Festival!"
First performers announced
As part of its 100th anniversary celebrations, Kunitachi College of Music (pronounced: Kunitachi Ongaku Daigaku, location: Tachikawa City, President: Umemoto Minoru, hereafter referred to as "our college" or "Kunion") will be holding the "Kunion 100 Fest!" over three days, from June 26th to 28th, 2026.
Day 1 will feature classical music that will carry Kunion's traditional sounds into the future, Day 2 will feature workshops and concerts that can be enjoyed by everyone from preschoolers to adults, and the final day, Day 3, will feature jazz with famous guest players and a one-day-only collaboration between graduates who are now active as artists.
◯Event Overview
DAY1 Friday, June 26, 2026
The Kunion 100 Festival will kick off at Suntory Hall. It will be a day where you can experience the traditions of Kunion at both Main Hall and the Blue Rose venue.
In Main Hall, you can enjoy a diverse program of concertos, opera arias, choruses, and performances by the university's traditional brass orchestra, all backed by a magnificent orchestra.
At the Blue Rose venue, there will be performances recreating the "School Building Opening Ceremony" and "National Music Hall New Construction Grand Concert" held in 1926 by the university's predecessor, the Tokyo Higher Conservatory, as well as commemorative concerts for the 50th and 80th anniversaries of the university's founding. There will also be talks by alumni who have supported the music world up to now, looking back on the history of the university.
"Grand Gala"
Time: 6:30 PM (scheduled start time)
Venue: Suntory Hall Main Hall
<Cast>
Moderator: Ayako Kato
Conductor: Kobayashi Sukenori, and others
Violin: Tsuguo Tokunaga, Keiko Urushibara
Piano: Kayo Miki
Vocals: Takashi Aoyama, Ai Usuki, Tomoko Oshimi, Etsuko Kano, Masumi Kubota,
Eiko Koizumi, Hironori Kobayashi, Yusuke Kobori, Emi Sawabata, Shingo Sudo,
Kaoruko Takahashi, Hiroyuki Narita, Ken Nishikori, Kaori Hirai, Kei Fukui,
Matsubara, Arina; Miyaji, Ena; Mochizuki, Tetsuya; Morita, Mao; Yamashita, Koji;
Kimitake Watanabe
Orchestra: Kunitachi College of Music 100th Anniversary Special Orchestra (tentative name)
Choir: Kunitachi College of Music Music Choir
Brass Orchestra: Kunitachi College of Music of Music Brass Orchestra
<Track list>
JS Bach / Concerto for two violins in D minor BWV1043
F. Chopin / Piano Concerto No. 1, Op. 11, 1st Movement
G. Rossini / "Letters to you all" from the opera "The Trip to Reims"
WA Mozart / "Letter Duet" from the opera "The Marriage of Figaro" KV492
F. Lehar / "You are my heart" from "Land of Smiles"
Lv Beethoven / Symphony No. 9, Op. 125, 4th Movement
others
"Ensemble of Memories"
Time: 14:00 (scheduled)
Venue: Suntory Hall Blue Rose
<Cast>
Moderator: Naoko Inamura
Minoru Umemoto, Taro Otomo, Takashi Obara, Shinsuke Kishi, Genzo Kitamura, Michio Kobayashi, and Tadayoshi Takeda
others
Students of Kunitachi College of Music High School, Kunitachi College of Music, Kunitachi College of Music Dochokai (Alumni Association) *Special Choir (tentative name)
<Track list>
GF Handel / From "Messiah"
F. Schubert / The Shepherd on the Rock
J. Brahms / "Love Song"
others
* Kunitachi College of Music Dochokai (Alumni Association): An alumni organization made up of graduates of Kunitachi College of Music.
[Note] Includes performers who only appear for talks
DAY2 Saturday, June 27, 2026
Kunion is a comprehensive music university that leads the way in diverse learning and wide-ranging research. On the second day, the event will be held on this charming, lush campus.
Students are taking the lead in planning workshops and concerts that are open to preschoolers, elementary, middle, and high school students, and even adults! Experience Kunion's current state with your whole body through these exciting experiences.
"Campus Harmony"
Time: 13:00-18:00 (planned)
Venue: Kunitachi College of Music Concert Hall, New 1st Building etc.
<Event details> (planned)
・"Campus Harmony Outreach Concert (tentative name)" (Main Hall Concert Hall scheduled to start at 4:30 PM)
- Various music workshops and the 71st Tanabata Festival (University Campus)
others
<Cast>
Kunitachi College of Music Orchestra, an ensemble of Jazz Music students, students from Musical Theatre Course, and students from Vocal Music
others
DAY3 Sunday, June 28, 2026
The final day's performance will be held at Tachikawa Stage Garden in Tachikawa City, a city renowned for its comfortable living environment and appealing living spaces. The concert will be directed by Takebe Satoshi, a leading figure in the J-POP world since the 1980s who continues to produce countless legendary songs. Alumni musicians who carry on the "Kunon Spirit" will be gathered here, and we invite you to enjoy this one-off stage performance featuring stars who have realized "freedom, autonomy, and self-reliance" through the power of "music and people," and who will pass the baton to the next generation.
"Circle of Music"
Time: 4:00 PM (scheduled start time)
Location: Tachikawa Stage Garden
<Cast>
Solo and collaborative performances by legendary artists
Moderators: Ayako Kato and Satoshi Takebe
Big Band: NEWTIDE & GEMSTONES JAZZ ORCHESTRA
*Legendary artists will be announced in subsequent news releases.
*The performance will be in two parts.
Part 1: Pop + Screen Music
Part 2: Jazz + Big Band
【 KUNION Legendary Artists 1st installment 】(5 persons)
[General Director] Takebe Satoshi, Composer, Arranger, Music Producer
While studying Kunitachi College of Music, he has worked with numerous artists as a keyboardist and arranger. He has been the music director for Yumi Matsutoya's concert tours since 1983, and served as the live music director for Momoiro Clover Z from 2013 to 2016.
He has produced artists such as Hitoto Yo, Imai Miki, Hirai Ken, and JUJU, has been in charge of music for CX dramas such as "BEACH BOYS" and "Journey to the West," has been the music director for CX's "MUSIC FAIR" and "FNS Music Festival," has been in charge of music for Studio Ghibli films "From Up on Poppy Hill" and "Earwig and the Witch," and more recently has been in charge of music for the films "THE FIRST SLAM DUNK," "Muroi Shinji: The Unvanquished," and "Muroi Shinji: The One Who Continues to Live," and has served as the music director for "Yuzuru Hanyu ICE STORY 2023 "GIFT"."
[Chairperson] Ayako Kato, Freelance Announcer, Born in 1985 in Saitama Prefecture.
After graduating from the Department of Education Kunitachi College of Music, she joined Fuji Television in 2008. She has appeared as a newscaster and MC on many programs, including "Mezamashi TV," "Honmadekka!? TV," and "Waratte Iitomo!" She began working as a freelance announcer in 2016, and served as the main newscaster on the news program "Live News it!" for three years. She currently serves as the MC for TX's "Naze Soko? +," as well as appearing in various media outlets and hosting events, balancing her career and family life. She will be hosting days 1 and 3 of the Kunion 100 Festival!
Tickets are scheduled to go on sale from autumn 2025 onwards.
〇100th anniversary commemorative events
<Special Sponsor>
Inageya Co., Ltd. (6/27 & 6/28 performances), Tachihi Holdings Co., Ltd. (6/28 performance)
<Sponsor>
Tachikawa City, Tachikawa City Board of Education, Tachikawa Tourism and Convention Association,
Tama Toshi Monorail Line Co., Ltd., Tachikawa City Shopping District Promotion Association
(As of June 26, 2025)
<100th Anniversary Official Social Media>
・Official X https://twitter.com/100th_kunion
・Official Instagram https://www.instagram.com/100th_kunion
・Official Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577370872460
< Kunitachi College of Music 100th Anniversary Special Website> https://www.kunitachi.ac.jp/100th/
Contact Information
[Inquiries regarding this press release and interviews]
Kunitachi College of Music 100th Anniversary Commemoration Committee
MAIL: 100th@kunitachi.ac.jp