Enjoy the fresh sounds produced by young musicians in a historic music hall

Kanagawa Prefectural Music Hall, Japan's first full-scale public hall, is approaching its 68th year since opening.
The Kanagawa Philharmonic Orchestra will be holding a "Fresh Concert" in this hall on January 15th, 2019.
This year marks the 16th time the event has been held, and three young performers will be performing alongside the Kanagawa Philharmonic Orchestra: Yuta Ito (trombone), who won first place in the brass section of the 18th Tokyo Music Competition; Asumi Yamaguchi (violin), who won second place at the 2020 Senzoku Gakuen College of Music Graduate School Grand Prix Special Concert; and Sara Yonemitsu (piano), who won the Kanagawa Prefectural Assembly Speaker's Award in the high school division of the Youth Piano Section of the 37th Kanagawa Music Competition.

This concert was held in this place, filled with many dreams and memories as she has visited it many times since childhood for competitions, and featured a concert with the Kanagawa Philharmonic Orchestra, which she had dreamed of performing with someday.
This time, we spoke with young pianist Kisaki Yonemitsu, who has made that dream come true and is brimming with sparkling talent and hope. Please enjoy until the end.

When I met Kisaki Rai, I was impressed that she was literally sparkling.
Her performance left an impression of being beautiful and delicate, yet filled with hope. I'm already excited to hear what kind of sound she will produce when she plays the piano.
The interview took place inside Kanagawa Art Hall. In the silent hall, where we were the only ones present, even the sound of Kisaki Rai's heels echoed beautifully.
So we started the interview right away.

What made you decide to become a pianist?

The first time I touched the piano was when I started attending music classes in kindergarten. I then started entering competitions in elementary school, but at first I felt frustrated because I didn't win any prizes. I think that's when I started to seriously aim to become a pianist.

Have you ever been interested in other instruments?

Actually, I was interested in wind instruments when I played the trumpet in a brass band in the fifth grade of elementary school. However, my piano skills had improved by that point, so I chose piano after all.

Have you ever felt like giving up on the piano?

I never nearly gave up, but I did find myself torn between choosing a music high school or going to a regular high school. In the end, I decided to go to a music school because my teacher at the time, Yusuke Kikuchi, was a teacher at the music school and I wanted to follow him.

Please tell us what kind of pianist you aspire to be.

I want to become a pianist who can express my own style. There are moments when I get instantly immersed in a performance, and I want to increase those. I also want to become a teacher in the future who can convey various things beyond just performing.

What is "your own color"?
　
Especially the delicate parts. I think that in a performance, it's important not only to have a powerful performance, but also to have the delicate parts that move people. So I want to hone my expressiveness even more.
　
What exactly does the piano mean to you?

Well, the piano... (hesitating) is always by my side, and there's never a time when I'm not playing it... so I guess it's my life itself (laughs).

Kisaki Rai has won numerous awards at a young age, but do you remember the first time you won an award?

When I was in the second or third grade of elementary school, I won first place in a competition that I had failed in the first grade. When they called my name, I felt such a sense of accomplishment that I burst into tears, and I was so happy.

How do you feel when you take on a competition?

To be honest, up until around junior high school, I felt like I was participating in competitions just to win prizes. However, once I entered high school, I started to place more importance on the process, such as practicing leading up to the competition and my mental attitude, rather than on the results. Strangely enough, I tend to get better results when I'm not thinking about the results (laughs).

Please tell us what you keep in mind when performing, and if you have any special thoughts.

It's not just about the technical aspects, like not making any mistakes, but about leaving something behind in my playing and being able to convey something.

Please tell us what makes Kisaki Raisho different from other pianists!

Umm... (laughs) People often tell me that my high notes have a sparkling quality, so I guess it's that (blushes).

This time you will be performing with the Kanagawa Philharmonic Orchestra at the historic Kanagawa Prefectural Music Hall. What are your thoughts on this?

I first visited the Concert Hall for a competition when I was in fifth grade. Since then, it has been a place I have admired and remembered, so I am very happy. And now, I am able to perform with the local orchestra in my hometown, something I have always dreamed of, and I am truly delighted.

Please introduce the Tchaikovsky Concerto No. 1 that will be performed this time. Please also tell us if there are any highlights or things you would like us to pay attention to.

In the first movement, he expressed his joy, and how happy he felt to be able to perform together in this place.
The second movement is a nostalgic piece, and it seems like it could be played while thinking about the past, such as past memories.
The third movement is a dynamic piece, so I think it can convey determination and strong will for the future. I hope you enjoy it.

What are your future plans?

Since entering university, I have come to feel the harshness of a different world than what I experienced in high school, such as the high level of the people around me, but I want to keep pushing forward without giving in and continue to challenge myself with more and more new things.

What is the source of your strength that keeps you working hard and not giving up?

I have received guidance from many teachers both inside and outside of school. I want to respond to their sincere guidance!
I feel strongly about this.

thank you very much!

As I listened to her talk, I felt that she was calm yet very strong-willed, and I was also very impressed by her cute appearance as she would occasionally laugh out loud.
She said that people often say that her high notes sparkle, and it really does fit the image of Kisaki Rai.

Please come and see the 16th Fresh Concert.

Kanagawa Philharmonic Orchestra "16th Fresh Concert"
[Date and time] Saturday, January 15, 2022, starting at 2:00 p.m.
[Main performance] Mozart / Overture from the opera "The Marriage of Figaro"
Reicha / Trombone Concerto No. 2 in A major
Prokofiev / Violin Concerto No. 1 in D major, Op.19
Tchaikovsky / Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-flat minor, Op. 23
[Fee] Adults: 3,000 yen, Youth (under 25): 1,500 yen
[Grant] Arts and Culture Promotion Fund Grant Program
[Sponsor] Classic Yokohama | Piano Teachers Association of Japan (PTNA)