【press release】
Kunitachi College of Music 100th Anniversary Project
"Choral Pilgrimage Rebirth ~towards next new generation~"
Crowdfunding for implementation will begin on August 8th
To commemorate its 100th anniversary in 2026, Kunitachi College Kunitachi College of Music (located in Tachikawa, Tokyo; President: Minoru Umemoto; hereafter referred to as "the College") will be hosting a Choral Pilgrimage Rebirth ~towards the next new generation~ (hereafter referred to as "Choral Pilgrimage Rebirth"), with 56 student volunteers from Music Education. To help ease the burden on students, a crowdfunding campaign will begin on Friday, August 8, 2025.
Crowdfunding details: https://readyfor.jp/projects/GA_Rebirth
〇About crowdfunding
The "Choir Pilgrimage" is an activity that has been held for 35 years, bringing songs to children and students all over the country, since its first event in Fukushima Prefecture during the time of the Department of Music and Education at our university. It has received a great response as a practical opportunity for students specializing in music and education. To mark the 100th anniversary of our founding, we will revive this choral pilgrimage in Soma City, Fukushima Prefecture.
The students involved in the implementation of the program will participate at their own expense. Therefore, in order to reduce the burden on the students as much as possible, the donations received will be used mainly for the students' transportation and accommodation expenses. Depending on the amount of donation, we will send thank-you letters to all supporters, include your name in the program, and include a message in the program.
The "Choral Pilgrimage Rebirth" will be filmed by a filming company, and the documentary footage will be shown at "Ontama 2026 - Choral Pilgrimage Rebirth," which will be held at Kunitachi College of Music Concert Hall Main Hall on Monday, February 23, 2026 (national holiday). The names of all those who have supported us will also be included in the footage.
◯Business background and purpose
The "Chorus Pilgrimage" is a historic initiative in which students from the Department of Education and Music at our university traveled around the country from 1954 to 1989 to conduct choral outreach activities at elementary, junior high, and high schools, as well as public facilities. The "Chorus Pilgrimage Rebirth" project will carry on this tradition while exploring new choral styles through new performance formats that utilize ICT. Additionally, a participatory concert will be planned and held at a school in the area affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake (Fukushima Prefecture) in September 2025, with the video footage of the event being produced and released as a documentary.
We hope to connect the thoughts of the students who have traveled around the country, reaffirm the power of music education, and send out new messages for the future. We would appreciate your warm support and encouragement.
◯ "Ontama 2026 ~ Chorus Pilgrimage Rebirth"
Date and time: Monday, February 23, 2026 (holiday) 12:00 p.m.
Venue: Kunitachi College of Music Concert Hall Main Hall
Contents: Choir performance by volunteers from current students and alumni,
We will also be screening the documentary "Choral Pilgrimage Rebirth."
"Ontama" is a concert that began in 2017, where volunteer choirs formed for each grade level in Music Education at our university come together, regardless of whether they are currently enrolled or have graduated, with the aim of "putting the feelings conveyed in words into music and performing them."
◯Purpose and returns of crowdfunding
the purpose:
The funds will be used to support the travel and accommodation costs of students participating in the "Choral Pilgrimage Rebirth." We will also raise funds necessary for the implementation and recording of the reenactment project.
Main return examples:
* Varies depending on the amount
・Sending thank-you letters
・Your name will be written on a panel that will be set up on the day of "Ontama 2026 ~ Chorus Pilgrimage Rebirth"
・Your name will be included in the program and documentary footage
・Message included in the program
etc.
Contact Information
[Inquiries regarding this press release and interviews]
Kunitachi College of Music 100th Anniversary Commemorative Project Executive Committee
MAIL: 100th@kunitachi.ac.jp