Audition information for orchestra members

What is the Chofu Festival Orchestra?

This orchestra was inaugurated at the Chofu Music Festival 2016. Every year, the orchestra is composed of young musicians who have passed an audition.

Each part is headed by an internationally renowned soloist or principal player of major orchestras (NHK Symphony Orchestra, Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra etc.), who responded to a direct request from Masato Suzuki, Executive Producer of the Chofu International Music Festival. During the rehearsal period, they will provide guidance and advice to the young musicians together with the conductor Masaaki Suzuki.

Application period: 20th March <Fri.> - 18th April<Sat.>

Qualification requirements

・About 35 years old and under.
・Must be capable of performing this program and have skills at the same level as music college students.
・Must be able to participate in all rehearsals and performance schedules
*Must also attend the section rehearsals scheduled before the orchestra rehearsals.

Types of Instruments

Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass, Flute, Piccolo, Oboe, English Horn,
Clarinet, E♭ Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, Bassoon, Contrabassoon, Horn,
Trumpet, Trombone, Bass Trombone, Tuba, Harp, Timpani,
Percussion, Harpsichord
*Flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, and trombone players who wish to perform Mahler are
required to select their possible ”doubling instruments.”
*Applicants wishing to perform Handel on original instruments should indicate this in the
remarks section of the application form.

Schedule

Rehearsals: Tuesday, June 23rd - Friday, June 26th, 16:00 - 21:00 (tentative)
Performance: Saturday, June 27th, 16:00 - 18:00
Venue: Chofu Green Hall
*Those whose performances are deemed particularly outstanding during the judging process may be invited to perform at satellite concerts held in various locations throughout the city (participation fees will be waived for those who perform).

How to apply

・Fill the application form ( Name, Age, Instrumental, Short biography, Reason for application).
・Submit performance video (Audio-only recordings will not be accepted).

About application video

・The application video should have been recorded in the last 12 months
・Complete a set piece and a free piece (free piece must be about 5 minutes long)
・The video must be uploaded on YouTube as unlisted. You must copy and paste the URL on the application form.

Participation Fee

20,000 yen (not refundable)

・Includes one complimentary ticket
・The scores will be provided
・We will inform those who pass the audition about the payment method

Concert repertoire

Handel: Concerto Grossi in C major, "Alexander's Feast" Suite, HWV 318
Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 24 in C minor, K. 491
Mahler: Symphony No. 1 in D major, "Titan"

Conductor: Masaaki SUZUKI

Soloist: Kanon Matsuda

She began studying in Moscow at the age of six. She graduated at the top of her class from the Gnessin Secondary (Advanced) Music School and the Moscow Conservatory. In 2021, she completed her postgraduate studies at the same institution. She has performed with acclaimed artists such as Pletnev and Inkinen. She has released two CDs through Deutsche Grammophon, and in the fall of 2025, she will release her third CD, "Tchaikovsky's 'The Seasons' and Other Works," through Universal Music.

Teachers

Concertmaster: Kei Shirai (violinist)
Violin: Seiji Okamoto (winner of the ARD Munich International Music Competition, violin division)
Violin: Eri Takimura (principal violinist of the Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra)
Violin: Mayuko Ishigami (violinist)
Violin: Keita Horie (associate concertmaster of the Kansai Philharmonic Orchestra)
Viola: Hiroshi Narita (principal violist of the Yamagata Symphony Orchestra)
Cello: Rentaro Tomioka (principal cellist of the Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra)
Cello: Toru Yamamoto (member of Bach Collegium Japan)
Double bass: Shigeru Ishikawa (solo double bassist of the Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra, visiting professor at Senzoku Gakuen College of Music, part-time lecturer at Toho Gakuen College of Music)
Flute: Seiya Ueno (Jean- (Winner of the Pierre Rampal International Flute Competition)
Oboe: Kanami Araki (Principal, Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra)
Clarinet: Dirk Altmann (Principal, Southwest German Radio Symphony Orchestra)
Bassoon: Tetsuya Naga (Principal, Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra)
Horn: So Hamachi (Principal, Gunma Symphony Orchestra)
Trumpet: Hidenori Saito (Bach Collegium Japan)
Trombone: Daisuke Ochi (Principal, Gunma Symphony Orchestra)
Tuba: Shinpei Tsugita (Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra, Associate Professor, Senzoku Gakuen College of Music, Part-time Lecturer, Showa University of Music)
Harp: Naoko Yoshino (Harpist)
Percussion: Kosuke Nakayama (Principal, Kyoto Symphony Orchestra)
Harpsichord: Yuto Suzuki (Executive Producer, Chofu International Music Festival)

The Chofu International Music Festival Official website→ http://www.chofumusicfestival.com/

Note

. No remuneration will be provided for participation. In principle,
all expenses related to instruments, travel, accommodation, and
other costs must be covered by the participant (with the exception
of large instruments such as harp, timpani, harpsichord, etc.).
*International applicants participating from overseas, as well as those traveling
long distances within Japan (e.g., by Shinkansen), may be eligible for partial
support for travel and accommodation expenses. Please consult the office for
details.
. Personal information collected during the application process
will be used solely for purposes related to this event.
. Photographs and video recordings may be taken during
rehearsals and performances for documentation and public
relations purposes.

Past Festival Orchestra

Executive Producer: Masato Suzuki
Associate Producer: Yui Morishita
Senior Advisor: Masaaki Suzuki
Communication Advisor: Keiko Hirano
Organized by Chofu City Cultural & Community Promotion Foundation, Chofu City
Cooperation: Toho Gakuen Collage

To inquire
The Chofu International Music Festival (Chofu City Cultural & Community Promotion Foundation)
E-Mail: butai@chofu-culture-community.org