“THE INTERNATIONAL OBOE COMPETITION OF JAPAN” was founded under the idea originated by our former chairman, Norio Ohga (1930-2011), who had been intrigued with the innocent and comforting sound of the oboe and had advocated its importance as the instrument that could determine the quality of an entire orchestra and we, Sony Music Foundation, had been presenting it every three years since 1985. It is aimed to promote the true artistic value of oboe, as well as to contribute to the development of the culture of music with an international perspective by discovering and fostering talented musicians and help them expand their scope of activities in both Japan and abroad. The first seven competitions were held in Tokyo. The venue was changed to Karuizawa, Nagano for the next four competitions, the 11th competition being the most recent. The 12th competition will be held in Tokyo for nine days from September 29 through October 7, 2018.
It has established its recognition as an international competition unique in the world as solely dedicated to the oboe, with past winners going on to become international figures obtaining principal and solo positions at world renowned orchestras, such as L'Orchestre National de Lyon, Tetra Communal did Bologna, Orchestra de Paris, Filharmonie Brno, Lucerne Festival Orchestra, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, London Symphony Orchestra and Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra to name a few.
“THE INTERNATIONAL OBOE COMPETITION OF JAPAN in Tokyo” is the member of the World Federation of International Music Competitions.
Masaru KATO
Chairman
THE 12th INTERNATIONAL OBOE COMPETITION OF JAPAN 2018 in Tokyo Committee
(Chairman of Sony Music Foundation)
Period for application | February 15 (Thu) - March 13 (Tue), 2018 [must arrive by this date, Japan time] |
---|---|
Preliminary Screening with recorded materials | April 2018(closed to the public) |
Registration | September 26 (Wed), 2018 |
(Following rounds are all open to the public)
First Round | Start at 10 a.m. to around 7 p.m. September 29 (Sat) and 30 (Sun), 2018 (Tokyo Opera City Recital Hall) |
---|---|
◇Results announcement | September 30 (Sun), 2018 |
Second Round | Start at 11 a.m. to around 6 p.m. October 2 (Tue), 3 (Wed) and 4 (Thu), 2018 (Tokyo Opera City Recital Hall) |
◇Results announcement | October 4 (Thu), 2018 |
Final Round | Start at 10 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. / 1:15 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. (TBC) October 6 (Sat), 2018 (Kioi Hall) |
Award Presentation Ceremony | Start at around 6 p.m. October 6 (Sat), 2018 (Kioi Hall) |
Prize Winners & Jury Concert | Start at 2 p.m.(Door Open at 12 p.m.) October 7 (Sun), 2018 (Kioi Hall) |
First & Second Round | Tokyo Opera City Recital Hall http://www.operacity.jp/en/ 3-20-2 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku Tokyo 163-1403 Japan |
---|---|
Final Round & Concert | Kioi Hall http://www.kioi-hall.or.jp/en/ 6-5, Kioi-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 102-0094 Japan |
Masaru KATO (Chairman of Sony Music Foundation)
Shigenobu KARUBE (Chief and Secretary General, Secretariat) (Executive Managing Director of Sony Music Foundation)
Ken-ichi FURUBE
Yoshiaki OBATA
Masaru YOSHIDA
Hansjörg SCHELLENBERGER (Oboist, conductor)
Maurice BOURGUE (Oboist)
Ken-ichi FURUBE (Principal Oboist - New Japan Philharmonic)
Gordon HUNT (Principal Oboe - London Chamber Orchestra, former Principal Oboe - Philharmonia Orchestra, Conductor)
Yoshiaki OBATA (Professor at Tokyo University of the Arts)
Dwight PARRY (Principal oboist - Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra)
Masaru YOSHIDA (Principal Bassoonist - Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra, Tokyo)
(in alphabetical order)
c/o Sony Music Foundation
Address: SME‐Rokubancho Bldg. 4‐5, Rokubancho, Chiyoda‐ku, Tokyo 102‐8353 JAPAN
Phone: +81‐(0)3‐3515‐5261 (10:00 - 18:00 Japan time, on weekdays)
E–mail: smf@sonymusic.co.jp
Please note: Any inquiries from abroad will only be accepted via e‐mail.
Certificate / cash prize of JPY1,300,000 / trophy
[Ohga Award]
In honor of the late Norio Ohga (former chairman of Sony Music Foundation [1930-2011]), the first prize has been named after him from the 10th Competition.
Certificate / cash prize of JPY700,000
Certificate / cash prize of JPY300,000
If there are more than two winners for the same prize, the Committee will revise the amount of the cash prize at its own discretion.
If no one is deemed qualified, the relevant place will be left vacant.
Certificate / cash prize of JPY100,000
This will be given to all finalists other than the winners of the top three prizes.
Certificate
Certificate
The jury will choose one contestant with Japanese citizenship for this award.
If no one is deemed qualified, the relevant place will be left vacant.
The winner will be given an opportunity to perform in a concert by the end of the next Competition.
Commemorative gift
The Sony Corporation will give all finalists a commemorative gift.
Other prizes and awards, such as a Special Award, may be offered.
The amounts of cash prizes mentioned above are inclusive of taxes according to the tax laws of Japan.
Oboist, conductor
Hansjörg Schellenberger was born in 1948 and raised by parents who were ardent music lovers, thus, he became keenly interested in music at an early age. He started playing the oboe at the age of 13 and then studied oboe, conducting, and mathematics in Munich and Detmold.
After winning prizes in major music competitions, including the ARD International Music Competition in Munich, Mr. Schellenberger became oboist of the WDR Symphony Orchestra Cologne in 1971 and held the post of solo oboist from 1975 through 1980. In 1977, he began working as a substitute at the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra under Herbert von Karajan and then served as solo oboist from January 1980 through summer 2001. After he left the orchestra, he remained active musically, mainly as a conductor, soloist, and educator.
As a soloist, Mr. Schellenberger has performed with prominent conductors like Herbert von Karajan, Carlo Maria Giulini, Claudio Abbado, Riccardo Muti, James Levine, and many others. As a chamber musician, Mr. Schellenberger has developed diverse activities, mostly with Ensemble Wien-Berlin. In 1991, he founded Haydn Ensemble Berlin and served as its music director.
Mr. Schellenberger started to seriously pursue his career as a conductor in 1994. He has been invited to conduct orchestras in Europe and throughout the world. In autumn 2012 and 2016, he toured Japan leading Camerata Salzburg; both tours were highly acclaimed. Mr. Schellenberger has been chief conductor of the Okayama Philharmonic Orchestra since 2013 and jury chairman of the International Oboe Competition of Japan since 1994. The International Oboe Competition is held every three years and marked its 11th competition in 2015. He is also a professor at the Queen Sofia College of Music in Madrid.
Oboist
Maurice Bourgue is unquestionably one of the finest oboists in the world today. He won the first prize in the International Wind Competition in Birmingham, followed by a series of first prizes in Munich, Prague, and Budapest. Subsequently, he landed the position of solo oboist of the Basel Orchestra and was later chosen by Charles Munch to become the solo oboist of Orchestre de Paris.
His career as a soloist has brought him to major concert halls all over the world. He has played with I Musici, London Symphony, the Concertgebow, and the Bayerische Rundfunk to name a few, with conductors such as Abbado, Barenboim, Chailly etc.
In 2011, He formed “Trio Maurice Bourgue” with Sergio Azzolini on bassoon and Kimiko Imani on piano.
Maurice Bourgue also began to explore the world of conducting and has conducted many orchestras since.
Over his entire career Maurice Bourgue has been very active in teaching. Besides his permanent positions at Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Paris and Conservatoire de Musique de Genève, he gives master classes around the world where many oboists follow his masterly guidance.
Maurice Bourgue has recorded for EMI, Decca, DGG, Calliope, Nippon Columbia, ECM, and has received several Grand Prix de L’academie Charles Gros.
Recently, he also realized a recording of chamber music for Warner with top-rated musicians from Boston symphony Orchestra.
And in 2018, he has the project to make the record of 3 concerti by Strauss, Martinu and Honneger.
He has been a jury member of THE INTERNATIONAL OBOE COMPETITION OF JAPAN since the 4th Competition in 1994.
Principal Oboist - New Japan Philharmonic
© Masanori Doi
While studying at Tokyo University of the Arts, Kenichi Furube was recognized by Seiji Ozawa and appointed principal oboist with the New Japan Philharmonic. He further studied under Günther Passin at the graduate school of the University of Music and Performing Arts Munich. In 1999, Mr. Furube became the first oboist to win the Idemitsu Music Prize.
As a guest principal player, Mr. Furube has performed with the North German Radio Symphony Orchestra (NDR Symphony Orchestra), the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, and the Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra. As a soloist, he has performed with various orchestras in Japan and abroad, and also with such world-class artists as Emmanuel Pahud, Paul Meyer, Rainer Küchl, Akiko Suwanai, and Daishin Kashimoto.
Mr. Furube’s collaborations transcend genres, as he has performed concerts with Daisuke Suzuki, Katsumi Watanabe, and Makoto Ozone, to name a few. He has participated in several music festivals, including La Folle Journée au Japon, the Seiji Ozawa Matsumoto Festival, the Miyazaki International Music Festival, the Kiso Music Festival, and Le Pont International Music Festival Ako & Himeji.
Conducting since the age of 15, Mr. Furube has performed as a conductor with the Shizuoka Symphony Orchestra, the Siena Wind Orchestra, and the Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra. He currently serves as a part-time lecturer at Tokyo College of Music, Soai University, and the Toho Orchestra Academy, as well as a guest professor at Sapporo Otani University (Faculty of Music and Fine Arts). He was recently invited to give a master class by his alma mater, the University of Music and Performing Arts Munich.
Principal Oboe - London Chamber Orchestra, former Principal Oboe - Philharmonia Orchestra, Conductor
© Chris Fower
Gordon Hunt was born in London and studied with Terence MacDonagh. He performs throughout the world as soloist and conductor, directs master classes and plays with renowned chamber ensembles. He also has a distinguished orchestral career as Principal Oboe of the London Chamber Orchestra and the World Orchestra for Peace, and formerly, Principal Oboe of the Philharmonia and London Philharmonic Orchestras.
Regarded as one of the world's leading oboists, he has appeared as soloist with conductors such as Ashkenazy, Sir Andrew Davis, Giulini, Kondrashin, Muti, Sir John Pritchard, Sir Simon Rattle, Sinopoli and Welser-Möst.
Gordon Hunt has recorded a wide range of music for BMG, EMI, BIS and Virgin, including all of Mozart's solo music. His recording of the R.Strauss Concerto with the Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra and Ashkenazy (Decca) was named the finest available by the Penguin CD Guide.
As a conductor, he is becoming widely known. He has been Music Director of the Danish Chamber Players and the Swedish Chamber Winds.
He has conducted many orchestras such as the National Symphony Orchestra of South Africa,Danish Radio Sinfonietta, Southbank Sinfonia in London, to name a few. In recent years, he has conducted in Georgia, New Zealand, Brazil, the UK and the USA, with the Orchestra of St. Luke's in New York, and the Redlands Symphony in California.
Gordon Hunt is Professor at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and an Honorary Associate of the Royal Academy of Music. He has been a member of the jury for "THE INTERNATIONAL OBOE COMPETITION OF JAPAN" since 1997. In 2010 he was designated a UNESCO Artist for Peace.
Gordon Hunt plays an LXV oboe made by Howarth of London.
Professor at Tokyo University of the Arts
Yoshiaki Obata graduated from the Tokyo University of the Arts (Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music), after which he completed the master course at its graduate school. While at school, he won third prize in the wind instrument category at the 42nd Music Competition of Japan. From 1979 to 1982, Obata was a member of the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra. He then went to Berlin to pursue further studies. After returning to Japan, he became principal oboist with the New Japan Philharmonic. While serving as a professor at Tokyo University of the Arts, Obata has been enjoying extensive performing activities as soloist, chamber musician and player of early instruments.
Principal oboist - Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra
Dwight Parry is the principal oboist of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and teaches at the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. Previously, was principal oboist of the San Diego Symphony and was a New World Symphony Fellow. He has been guest principal with the New York Philharmonic, the Chicago Symphony, the San Francisco Symphony, the Atlanta Symphony, the Los Angeles Opera, and the Deutsche Symphonie of Berlin. Originally from coastal Southern California, he found his musical passion with piano, voice, and saxophone. It was not until late in high school, however, that he began playing the oboe. His teachers were John Mack, Allan Vogel, and David Weiss, a gentleman who also taught him to surf!
Mr. Parry performs and teaches internationally with concertos, recitals, masterclasses, and chamber music. In recent seasons, he performed Francaix's Flower Clock, Mozart's Oboe Concerto, Marcello's Oboe Concerto, and four performances of his favorite piece, Richard Strauss' Oboe Concerto.
When not holding an oboe, Mr. Parry can be found in the audience for local concerts and plays. He spends the rest of his time hiking, running, volunteering, tossing frisbees, reading and creating curiosities in the kitchen.
Mr. Parry is a Loreé artist.
Principal Bassoonist - Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra, Tokyo
© Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra
After graduating from the Instrumental Music course at Musashino Academia Musicae, Masaru Yoshida enrolled in the Solo Performance class at the Hanover University of Music, Drama, and Media in 1986 and studied under Klaus Thunemann. In 1987, he joined the Junge Deutsche Philharmonie (a German select student orchestra) as principal bassoonist. He also performed with the Cologne Chamber Orchestra and Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen.
Mr. Yoshida graduated from the Hanover University of Music, Drama, and Media in 1989. In the same year, he joined the Vlaamse Opera in Belgium as a principal player and also became principal bassoonist of the Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra.
Mr. Yoshida has been a regular member of the Miyazaki International Chamber Music Festival since 1998 and has performed annually as principal bassoonist with the Saito Kinen Orchestra (Seiji Ozawa Matsumoto Festival) since 2002.
Currently, Mr. Yoshida is a bassoonist with the Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra, a coach at the Seiji Ozawa Music Academy, a guest professor at Senzoku Gakuen College of Music, and an instructor at Musashino Academia Musicae.
© Eiji Shinohara
Maho Ishino graduated from the Music Department of Toho Gakuen School of Music, majoring in Piano Course, and went on to acquire an Ensemble Diploma there. Later, as a Fondation Franco-Japonaise Sasakawa scholar, she underwent training at the Théâtre du Châtelet of Théâtre musical de Paris under Sabine Vatin to become a corépétiteur. Meanwhile, she performed at a string of concerts such as “les midi musicaux”, a series of concerts at Châtelet. After returning to Japan, she has branched out as a corépétiteur, being a part of a wide array of opera concerts at Tokyo Nikikai Opera Foundation, New National Theatre Tokyo, Biwako Hall Center for the Performing Arts, and Nissay Theatre to name a few. She also performs alongside vocals and instruments, and serves as a keyboard instrument player at various domestic orchestras. She has performed at events such as Kirishima International Music Festival, Miyazaki International Music Festival, Sendai Classical Music Festival, and La Folle Journée. Ishino is currently pianist at Nikikai Opera Institute and NNY Opera Studio.
After graduating from Showa University of Music with a special award, Eri Ishibashi completed the advanced course at the same school. She studied piano under Takahiro Sonoda and was a finalist at the 13th Clara Haskil International Piano Competition in Switzerland. Ms. Ishibashi then enrolled in the postgraduate program at the State University of Music and the Performing Arts Stuttgart, where she studied piano accompaniment for lieder works under Konrad Richter and also studied in the Piano department, earning the highest marks upon completing the program.
Ms. Ishibashi won the Outstanding Accompanist Award at the 4th International Schubert-Lied Competition for Voice and Piano and the Best Accompaniment Award at the 15th Biwako International Flute Competition.
Since she returned to Japan, Ms. Ishibashi has pursued her career mainly as an ensemble pianist and has performed with artists from Japan and abroad for recitals and concerts, while serving as an official accompanist for various competitions such as the Kobe International Flute Competition, the Asia Flute Competition, and the Japan Woodwind Competition.
Previously, Ms. Ishibashi was an assistant accompanist at Tokyo University of the Arts. She is currently a lecturer in the department of Piano and Piano Accompaniment at Showa University of Music and Showa College of Music.
Masako Eguchi graduated from the piano department of the Senzoku Gakuen Academy of Music and its graduate school. While in school, she received a scholarship to further study at the Ferenc Liszt University of Music in Hungary. Eguchi then obtained a teaching position as Korrepetitor at the same school and won prizes as the best accompanist at various wind music competitions in Hungary. She moved to Germany in 2004, where she was offered a post at the State Academy of Music and Performing Arts in Stuttgart. Because her work as Korrepetitor has earned such high praise from several different people, Eguchi not only teaches at music colleges in Stuttgart, but also in Köln, Mainz, and Basel. She has worked with distinguished professors Ingo Goritzki, Christian Wetzel, Emanuel Abbuehl and Christian Schmitt in their classes.
As a chamber music player, Eguchi has performed in a number of concerts, including a “Lunchtime Concert2” on BBC Radio (UK), chamber music concerts on SWR Radio (Germany) and Bartók Rádió (Hungary), and the Beethoven Festival Bonn (Germany). She has performed with many well-known musicians.
Eguchi often performs with Philippe Tondre (the second prize winner at the 9th International Oboe Competition in Karuizawa, Japan), one of her chamber music partners, and their chamber music concert at the Beethoven Festival Bonn won the Beethoven Ring Prize in 2012.
She is an official accompanist for the ARD Munich International Music Competition and the Markneukirchen International Instrumental Competition. She serves as an official accompanist for many orchestra auditions, as well.
© Shigeto Imura
After graduating from Musashino Academia Musicae and then completing a post-graduate course there, Mizuho Ohno completed a diploma course with highest honors at Hochschule für Musik Karlsruhe, Germany. After continually devoting himself to studies in a soloist course, he obtained the German Konzertexamen (Performer’s Diploma) with highest honors.
His awards include 3rd place in the piano solo category and 1st place in the chamber music category at the Premio Rovere d'Oro (Italy), 2nd place at the Dichler Wettbewerb (Austria), and 1st place and the Special Liszt Award at the Concours de piano de Brest (France), as well as numerous other competition awards in Japan and abroad.
He has performed as a soloist for the Musashino Academia Musicae Orchestra and for the Philharmonie Baden-Baden. In addition, he has performed at numerous concerts in Japan and abroad, including solo recitals at Tsuda Hall and Ohji Hall. He was also an accompaniment assistant at Hochschule für Musik Karlsruhe.
At the 85th Music Competition of Japan he received the Special Recognition Award from the Committee for his outstanding co-performance in the oboe category.
Up until now, he has studied under A. Tamura, J. Ganeva, K. Ganev, and K. Randalu. He is currently active in numerous performance-related activities as a soloist and a chamber musician. He is an instructor at Musashino Academia Musicae Senior High School and its affiliated Music School.
Junko Oka began playing piano at the age of 10. She graduated from Osaka College of Music, where she played with the College Opera House Orchestra. She then obtained a diploma in the Piano Accompaniment department at Conservatoire de Musique de Genève. While at the conservatoire, Ms. Oka served as accompanist/assistant to horn player, professor Bruno Schneider. After graduating, Ms. Oka was accompanist/assistant to master oboist, Mr. Maurice Bourgue, from 2006 though 2010.
Ms. Oka was an official accompanist at the 41st Concours International de Violon Tibor Varga, the Xi’an International Oboe Festival, and the 10th and the 11th International Oboe Competition of Japan. She also served as an assistant pianist in the violin and bassoon classes at the 36th and 37th Kusatsu International Summer Music Academy and the 23rd Hamamatsu International Wind Instrument Academy and Festival.
Currently, Ms. Oka is involved in a wide range of musical activities. She works with artists from abroad and regularly performs with orchestras in the Kansai region as an extra. She also performs on CD recordings, works with chamber groups, and serves as accompanist on an FM radio program, Recital Nova.
She studied piano under Kazumi Okada, Katsuko Kawagishi, and Mayumi Kameda, and she studied piano accompaniment and chamber music under Jean-Jacques Balet.
photo: Kiyotane Hayashi
Born in Tokyo, Akiko Kuwagata completed Music High School associated with the Faculty of Music at Tokyo University of the Arts (Composition Course). Halfway through her studies at Tokyo University of the Arts, she attended the Hochschule für Musik Detmold and the Hochschule für Musik und Darstellende Kunst Stuttgart (Harpsichord Course) on a DAAD scholarship granted by the German government and obtained Dimplom-Konzertexamen. She later moved to Paris and taught at Conservatoire à Rayonnement Régional de Cergy-Pontoise CRR and Conservatoire de Musique de Chaumont, while concertizing throughout various cities in Europe.
As an overseas trainee of the Agency for Cultural Affairs of Japan, she furthered her harpsichord and organ study in Italy and Spain. In addition to winning the second prize (no first prize) at the 8th Bruges International Harpsichord Competition Musica Antiqua, she was a runner-up at various competitions such as the FEP Paris International Harpsichord Competition and the International Johann Sebastian Bach Competition.
Kuwagata returned to Japan in 2000 after residing in Europe for 17 years, and her work in Tokyo and elsewhere has been multifaceted, giving countless seminars on early music temperament and style. She studied harpsichord under Kenneth Gilbert, Rinaldo Alessandrini, the late Waldemar Döling, and she studied organ under Odile Bailleux and Jose Luis Gonzalez Uriol. Presently, she is a part-time lecturer at Tokyo University of the Arts and a lecturer at the Harmony Hall in Matsumoto. She was a jury member at the Yamanashi Baroque Music Competition in 1997, 2003, and 2007. Solo album FROBERGER, J.J.: Partitas Nos. 1-6 (Meditation - Froberger's Vision) was released from “Tree” label under Dream Window in December 2007, which is now available worldwide digitally on high-resolution audio.
After completing studies in piano at the Royal Academy of Music, Tomoko Nozawa obtained a master’s degree from the Early Music department of Tokyo University of the Arts. She then received a Diplôme Supérieur de Concertiste from the Harpsichord department at the Conservatoire à Rayonnement Régional (CRR) de Paris with honors by unanimous decision. Ms. Nozawa was awarded first prize at the 17th Yamanashi Baroque Music Competition, and received a diploma award at the Bruges International Competition Musica Antiqua.
Ms. Nozawa served as an overseas trainee for the Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan. She studied under Masaaki Suzuki, Noelle Spieth, and Christophe Rousset, among others. In 2005 and 2015, Ms. Nozawa was invited to perform by the Association Claveçin en France as a young and upcoming performer. She has played basso continuo with a number of European early music ensembles that play music ranging from Baroque through Mozart, including Opera Fuoco, conducted by David Stern.
In 2014 and 2015, Ms. Nozawa was an opera production trainee of Christophe Rousset’s Les Talents Lyriques. Back in Tokyo, she conducted from the keyboard Rameau’s operas: Platée in 2012 and 2014, and Les Indes Galantes in 2015. Ms. Nozawa leads Cie du Trianon, an early music ensemble; 6 Mains 8 Pieds, a harpsichord unit; and Studio Trianon.
Yuka NISHINO (violin)
Yukiko YOSHIDA (viola)
Hajime OTOMO (cello)
Praised at their German debut as “exquisite and delicate like a gold-and-silver workmanship” (as described by German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine), The Quartet Excelsior is one of the few permanent string quartet in Japan, that gives more than seventy concerts a year. They perform across Japan with four concert series under their belt, namely the regular concert series of classic repertoire centering on Beethoven, the “Lab. Excelsior” project that sheds light on modern pieces from the 20th Century and beyond, “Traveling of String Quartet” a popular series of best-of selection, and “Quartet Weekend”, a joint series with next-generation string quartets. The Quartet is also committed to widening the audience for chamber music, and have been accumulating overseas concert experiences such as in the US, Europe, and Asia. Award-winning highlights include the 5th Paolo Borciani International String Quartet Competition, the “Fresh Artist Award” at the 19th Shin-Nittetsu Fresh Artist Prize, and the 16th Hotel Okura Music Award. In 2016, they became the first Japanese group to, with Suntory Hall as the organizer, complete the 16 string quartet cycles by Beethoven in two weeks. Until June that year, they had been a part of the teaching faculty of “Suntory Hall Chamber Music Academy” for six years, and they continue to teach younger people.
In April 2017, Quartet Excelsior was appointed Residential Artists of Urayasu Concert Hall, where they plan and perform a series of concerts and workshops.
© Satoru Mitsuta
Born in Tokyo. Since April 2015 he has been a Resident Conductor of Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra. Watanabe has served as the Resident Conductor of Hiroshima Symphony Orchestra from 1995 to 2002, and the Conductor of Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra from 1996 to March 2015. He made debut with NHK Symphony Orchestra in 1998 and since then he has regularly conducted the orchestra in subscription concerts and others. Other Japanese orchestras he regularly conducts are Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra, Japan Philharmonic Orchestra, New Japan Philharmonic, from all of which he has won trust on his musicality and conducting. He is also remarkable for conducting operas and ballets. He has conducted Mascagni's L'amico Fritz at the New National Theatre, Tokyo, Swan Lake, Nutcracker, and Don Quixote for the ballet company of the same theatre. He is also making international career conducting a subscription concert of St. Petersburg Symphony Orchestra in 03/04 season.
He performed a Haydn's piano concerto as a pianist with Tokyo Symphony Orchestra and Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra at the age of 8. From 1987 to 1989 he studied piano at the Music Academy of Darmstadt, and in Prof. Hans Leygraf's master class. Since returning to Japan he has performed Beethoven's piano concertos No. 3 and No. 5 "Emperor", programs of Ravel, Mozart, some of which he conducted and played the piano in subscription concerts of Tokyo Philharmonic, and with Osaka Philharmonic Orchestra and Sapporo Symphony Orchestra. Watanabe's talent as a pianist is also appreciated.
© Takafumi Ueno
In 2011, the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra celebrated its 100th anniversary as Japan’s first symphony orchestra. With about 130 musicians, TPO performs both symphonies and operas regularly. TPO is proud to have appointed Maestro Myung-Whun Chung, who has been conducting TPO since 2001, as Honorary Music Director, Maestro Andrea Battistoni as Chief Conductor and Maestro Mikhail Pletnev as Special Guest Conductor.
TPO has established its world-class reputation through its subscription concert series, regular opera and ballet assignments at the New National Theatre, and a full, ever in-demand agenda around Japan and the world, including broadcasting with NHK Broadcasting Corporation, various educational programs, and tours abroad. In March, 2014, TPO became a global sensation in its centennial world tour of six major cities: New York, Madrid, Paris, London, Singapore and Bangkok. In December 2015, TPO held Beethoven’s 9th symphony concerts in Seoul and Tokyo with Mastro Myung-Whun Chung, with Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra combined into one orchestra. TPO has partnerships with Bunkamura Orchard Hall, the Bunkyo Ward in Tokyo, Chiba City, Karuizawa Cho in Nagano and Nagaoka City in Niigata.
*13:30-14:30 intermission
*Time indicated above is subject to change.
Start | No. | Name | 1st piece | 2nd piece |
---|---|---|---|---|
10:00 | 1 | Ms. Miki KAWAMURA/川村 美樹 (Japan) | R. Schumann | Doráti |
2 | Mr. Shuhei NAKAMURA/中村 周平 (Japan) | R. Schumann | Doráti | |
3 | Mr. Vojtěch PODROUŽEK (Czech Republic) | Doráti | R. Schumann | |
4 | Ms. Rut SANTIAGO (Spain) | R. Schumann | Doráti | |
5 | Ms. Duan-ting CHANG (Taiwan) | Doráti | R. Schumann | |
11:45 | 6 | Mr. Shota TAKAHASHI/高橋 鐘汰 (Japan) | R. Schumann | Doráti |
7 | Mr. Shu HOMMA/本間 州 (Japan) | R. Schumann | Doráti | |
8 | Ms. Asako FURUOYA/古尾谷 麻子 (Japan) | R. Schumann | Doráti | |
9 | Ms. Hyun Jung SONG (South Korea) | R. Schumann | Doráti | |
10 | Ms. Tomoko UEHARA/上原 朋子 (Japan) | R. Schumann | Doráti | |
14:30 | 11 | Ms. Erika HASHIZUME/橋爪 惠梨香 (Japan) | R. Schumann | Doráti |
12 | Ms. Hyunae LIM (South Korea) | R. Schumann | Doráti | |
13 | Ms. Iria FOLGADO DOPICO (Spain) | R. Schumann | Doráti | |
14 | Mr. Kwansoo KO (South Korea) | R. Schumann | Doráti | |
15 | Mr. Yoichiro ONO/大野 葉一朗 (Japan) | R. Schumann | Doráti | |
16:15 | 16 | Mr. Kwangil LEE (South Korea) | R. Schumann | Doráti |
17 | Mr. Beomjun KIM (South Korea) | Doráti | R. Schumann | |
18 | Ms. Shih-Ying HUANG (Taiwan) | R. Schumann | Doráti | |
19 | Ms. Shuijing LIN (China) | R. Schumann | Doráti | |
20 | Ms. Saki GOTO/後藤 彩季 (Japan) | Doráti | R. Schumann | |
18:00 | 21 | Ms. Kaede YAMAMOTO/山本 楓 (Japan) | R. Schumann | Doráti |
22 | Mr. Gioele COCO (Italy) | R. Schumann | Doráti | |
23 | Ms. Saran BAE/裵 紗蘭 (South Korea) | R. Schumann | Doráti | |
24 | Ms. Shiho HAMANO/濵野 詩帆 (Japan) | R. Schumann | Doráti |
*13:30-14:30 intermission
*Time indicated above is subject to change.
Start | No. | Name | 1st piece | 2nd piece |
---|---|---|---|---|
10:00 | 25 | Ms. Mei KAMIKAWA/神川 芽伊 (Japan) | R. Schumann | Doráti |
26 | Mr. Daniel RODRÍGUEZ AGÚNDEZ (Spain) | Doráti | R. Schumann | |
27 | Mr. Andrey CHOLOKYAN (Russia) | R. Schumann | Doráti | |
28 | Ms. Clarisse MOREAU (France) | Doráti | R. Schumann | |
29 | Mr. Mariano ESTEBAN BARCO (Spain) | R. Schumann | Doráti | |
11:45 | 30 | Ms.Yumiko HIRAYAMA/平山 結美子 (Japan) | R. Schumann | Doráti |
31 | Mr. Armand DJIKOLOUM (France) | Doráti | R. Schumann | |
32 | Mr. Ilyes BOUFADDEN ADLOFF (France) | R. Schumann | Doráti | |
33 | Mr. Ángel Luis SÁNCHEZ MORENO (Spain) | R. Schumann | Doráti | |
34 | Ms. Jiyeon NOH (South Korea) | R. Schumann | Doráti | |
14:30 | 35 | Ms. Ayaka NISHINO/西野 文香 (Japan) | R. Schumann | Doráti |
36 | Mr. Alexander KRIMER (Germany) | R. Schumann | Doráti | |
37 | Ms. Nai-Hua CHUANG (Taiwan) | R. Schumann | Doráti | |
38 | Ms. Yijea HAN (South Korea) | R. Schumann | Doráti | |
39 | Ms. kana SHIMURA/志村 樺奈 (Japan) | R. Schumann | Doráti | |
16:15 | 40 | Ms. Kyoka SATO/佐藤 京香 (Japan) | R. Schumann | Doráti |
41 | Ms. Natalia AULI (Venezuela) | R. Schumann | Doráti | |
42 | Mr. Dahun LEE (South Korea) | R. Schumann | Doráti | |
43 | Ms. Yeeun KIM (South Korea) | R. Schumann | Doráti | |
44 | Ms. Yuka ASAHARA/浅原 由香 (Japan) | R. Schumann | Doráti | |
18:00 | 45 | Ms. Hikari OTA/太田 妃佳里 (Japan) | R. Schumann | Doráti |
46 | Ms. Eleanor Louise DODDFORD (UK) | R. Schumann | Doráti |
The order of performance in the Second Round has been posted.
※Time indicated above is subject to change
Start | No. | Name | 1st piece | 2nd piece | 3rd piece | 4th piece |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
11:00 | 3 | Mr. Vojtěch PODROUŽEK
(Czech Republic) |
J.S.Bach | Hosokawa | Mozart | Berio |
6 | Mr. Shota TAKAHASHI
高橋 鐘汰 (Japan) |
Doráti | Vivaldi | Mozart | Hosokawa | |
14:10 | 11 | Ms. Erika HASHIZUME
橋爪 惠梨香 (Japan) |
Doráti | Mozart | C.Ph.E.Bach | Hosokawa |
17 | Mr. Beomjun KIM
(South Korea) |
Mozart | C.Ph.E.Bach | Pasculli Fantasia | Hosokawa | |
16:10 | 18 | Ms. Shih-Ying HUANG
(Taiwan) |
Vivaldi | Mozart | Doráti | Hosokawa |
22 | Mr. Gioele COCO
(Italy) |
Couperin No.7 | Hosokawa | Mozart | Berio |
※Time indicated above is subject to change
Start | No. | Name | 1st piece | 2nd piece | 3rd piece | 4th piece |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
11:00 | 23 | Ms. Saran BAE
裵 紗蘭 (South Korea) |
Vivaldi | Mozart | Hosokawa | Doráti |
26 | Mr. Daniel RODRÍGUEZ AGÚNDEZ
(Spain) |
Couperin No.5 | Hosokawa | Mozart | Doráti | |
14:10 | 27 | Mr. Andrey CHOLOKYAN
(Russia) |
C.Ph.E.Bach | Skalkottas | Mozart | Hosokawa |
28 | Ms. Clarisse MOREAU
(France) |
Couperin No.7 | Mozart | Pasculli
Gran Concerto |
Hosokawa | |
16:10 | 29 | Mr. Mariano ESTEBAN BARCO
(Spain) |
Couperin No.6 | Pasculli
Gran Concerto |
Mozart | Hosokawa |
30 | Ms.Yumiko HIRAYAMA
平山 結美子 (Japan) |
C.Ph.E.Bach | Hosokawa | Mozart | Berio |
※Time indicated above is subject to change
Start | No. | Name | 1st piece | 2nd piece | 3rd piece | 4th piece |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
11:00 | 31 | Mr. Armand DJIKOLOUM
(France) |
Couperin No.7 | Mozart | Doráti | Hosokawa |
33 | Mr. Ángel Luis SÁNCHEZ MORENO
(Spain) |
Hosokawa | Couperin No.6 | Pasculli Fantasia | Mozart | |
14:10 | 35 | Ms. Ayaka NISHINO
西野 文香 (Japan) |
Couperin No.7 | Mozart | Berio | Hosokawa |
41 | Ms. Natalia AULI
(Venezuela) |
Couperin No.7 | Mozart | Doráti | Hosokawa | |
16:10 | 44 | Ms. Yuka ASAHARA
浅原 由香 (Japan) |
Couperin No.7 | Mozart | Hosokawa | Milhaud |
46 | Ms. Eleanor Louise DODDFORD
(UK) |
Mozart | C.Ph.E.Bach | Doráti | Hosokawa |
The order of performance in the Final Round has been posted.
※Time indicated above is subject to change.
10:00~12:00 Mozart:Quartet in F major for Oboe, Violin, Viola, and Violoncello K.370(368b)
13:15~17:00 R. Strauss:Concerto in D major for Oboe and small Orchestra AV144, TrV292
Start | Piece | No. | Name |
---|---|---|---|
10:00 | Mozart | 22 | Mr. Gioele COCO (Italy) |
Mozart | 23 | Ms. Saran BAE / 裵 紗蘭 (South Korea) | |
Mozart | 27 | Mr. Andrey CHOLOKYAN (Russia) | |
11:00 | Mozart | 31 | Mr. Armand DJIKOLOUM (France) |
Mozart | 41 | Ms. Natalia AULI (Venezuela) | |
Mozart | 44 | Ms. Yuka ASAHARA / 浅原 由香 (Japan) |
Start | Piece | No. | Name |
---|---|---|---|
13:15 | Strauss | 22 | Mr. Gioele COCO (Italy) |
Strauss | 23 | Ms. Saran BAE / 裵 紗蘭 (South Korea) | |
Strauss | 27 | Mr. Andrey CHOLOKYAN (Russia) | |
15:15 | Strauss | 31 | Mr. Armand DJIKOLOUM (France) |
Strauss | 41 | Ms. Natalia AULI (Venezuela) | |
Strauss | 44 | Ms. Yuka ASAHARA / 浅原 由香 (Japan) |
18:00~ 表彰式 The Prize and Award Presentation Ceremony
Number of Applicants by Countries and Regions : 24
Number of Applicants : 169
First Stage Contestants : 46
Second Stage Participants : 18
Final Stage Participants : 6
First Prize [Ohga Award] | No one qualified |
---|---|
Second Prize | No.44 / Ms. Yuka ASAHARA (Japan) |
Third Prize | No.27 / Mr. Andrey CHOLOKYAN (Russia) No.31 / Mr. Armand DJIKOLOUM (France) |
Honorable Mention | No.22 / Mr. Gioele COCO (Italy) No.23 / Ms. Saran BAE (South Korea) No.41 / Ms. Natalia AULI (Venezuela) |
Audience Award | No.31 / Mr. Armand DJIKOLOUM (France) |
Encouragement Award | No.6 / Mr. Shota TAKAHASHI (Japan) |