The Kanagawa Philharmonic Orchestra's special concert "Fresh Concert" brings you a spectacular performance by up-and-coming young performers. This year, the 13th edition of the concert, will feature Sayuri Fukushima (Flute), who won first place in the general category of the flute division at the 34th Kanagawa Music Competition held last year.
This will be Fukushima's first time performing on stage as a soloist, so we spoke to him about his journey as a musician and his enthusiasm for the concert.
What made you start playing the flute?
I started playing the flute when I joined the brass band club in junior high school. I had wanted to play the flute since elementary school, but I never had the chance.
I had been taking piano lessons since I was five, but I just went to lessons because it was fun, and I don't remember practicing hard (laughs). Rather, I think it was a big factor that I joined the instrumental music club in elementary school and worked on the recorder ensemble. My school put a lot of effort into it, so I even participated in the national competition.
The flute seems more difficult than the recorder.
That's right. You can make a sound just by blowing the recorder, but you can't make a sound just by blowing the flute. But I was able to make a sound right from the beginning. I was able to join the flute section in the brass band as I had hoped, and there was a senior who had studied properly, so I was able to learn from the basics, so I was lucky (laughs). After that, my advisor gave me advice that I should "study properly," so I started taking lessons from a local teacher (in Hokkaido).
So that's when you decided you wanted to become a professional musician.
No, no. I loved instruments, so I always wanted to be a music teacher, but I was planning to go to a local university. I started to aspire to a music college when I was in high school. With the encouragement of a local teacher, I started taking lessons from teachers at the Sapporo Symphony Orchestra, and gradually I started to feel like I wanted to go to a music college in Tokyo and study music. It was a late start for someone aiming to go to a music college, so the preparations were difficult.
Last year, she won first place in the general category of the flute section of the 34th Kanagawa Music Competition.
Thank you. I was extremely nervous and tried really hard during the performance, but I enjoyed the performance itself. Listening to it later, there are many things I wish I had done differently, but I think I gave the best performance I could at that time.
We will be performing with the Kanagawa Philharmonic Orchestra at the Freshman Concert in March.
I am very honored to have the opportunity to perform with the Kanagawa Philharmonic Orchestra. This will be my first time performing with an orchestra as a soloist, so I think I will be nervous, but I hope to enjoy it to the fullest.
Could you please introduce the Mozart Flute Concerto No. 1 in G Major that you will be performing?
Mozart has three flute concertos, but the first in G major is very attractive because of the way the piece begins and how dynamic it is. The contrast between the gorgeous parts and the motherly, gentle melody that is so characteristic of Mozart is also wonderful. I hope to be able to fully convey the charm of this piece, as I will be performing it with a wonderful orchestra in the wonderful Yokohama Minato Mirai Hall.
Actually, this song was one of the assignments for me when I was taking the university entrance exam, so I've had a really long relationship with it. Even after this concert is over, I'm sure it's a song I'll be working on for the rest of my life.
What is your dream for the future as a flute player?
A lot of things have changed for me in the past two or three years. I went on to graduate school at Tokyo University of the Arts, which I had always dreamed of attending, and this has greatly broadened my horizons and my circle of friends. I have also had many opportunities to meet new people and gain a wide range of experience.
One of the dreams that came from that is to play in an orchestra that plays opera. It's difficult because there are no orchestras that are exclusive to opera houses in Japan, but it's still one of my dreams. I haven't decided where I'll be after graduation, but I'd like to continue my studies and work as a professional orchestra player.
thank you very much!
This event has ended.
[Kanagawa Philharmonic Orchestra "13th Fresh Concert" ]
[Date and time] Sunday, March 10th, 14:00 start
[Venue] Yokohama Minato Mirai Hall
[Conductor] Yoko Matsuo
[Co-star]
Sayuri Fukushima (Flute) [1st Place, Flute Section, General Division, 34th Kanagawa Music Competition]
Yukine Kuroki (piano) [1st place in the 7th Yasuko Fukuda Award]
Mika Toyoda (horn) [Principal horn player]
Yuka Bando (horn) [Principal horn player]
Yu Kumai (horn) [horn player]
Midori Tanaka (horn) [contract horn member]
Chiharu Taki (violin) [3rd place winner of the David Oistrakh International Violin Competition]
[Main songs]
Mozart: Flute Concerto No. 1 in G major, K.313
Rachmaninoff: Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op.43
Hubler: Concertos for four horns and orchestra
Mendelssohn: Violin Concerto in E minor, Op.64
*Due to unavoidable circumstances, the performers, songs performed, etc. may be changed.
[Price] All seats reserved: ¥3,000 / Youth (under 25 years old): ¥1,000
[Inquiries] Kanagawa Philharmonic Ticket Service Tel. 045-226-5107 (Weekdays 10:00-18:00)
*Preschool children are not allowed to enter.
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The giveaway application period has now ended. Thank you to everyone who applied.
[Application Summary]
We will be giving away tickets to the 13th Fresh Concert, which will be held at Yokohama Minato Mirai Hall from 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 10th, to two groups of four people.
【Application method】
If you would like to receive a viewing ticket as a gift, please apply using the application form below. We look forward to receiving your application.
[Application Deadline]
Until 24:00 on Wednesday, February 20th
[Lottery and Winner Announcement]
Winners will be notified by email, so please be careful to check your spam settings. Emails will be sent from the Magcal.net Management Office (info.magcul@gmail.com).
The above email will serve as the winner notification instead of the announcement of the winner. On the day of the performance, please present the winning notification email at the ticket window of the venue, Yokohama Minato Mirai Hall. A staff member will hand you the ticket.
*Personal information provided will not be used for any purpose other than the lottery.
