Kanagawa Philharmonic Orchestra collaborates with local junior high school students!

The "Yokohama Next Concert" is a concert in which the Kanagawa Philharmonic Orchestra (hereafter referred to as Kanagawa Philharmonic) collaborates with junior high school students in Yokohama. We spoke to Toru Sakakibara, Music Director of the Kanagawa Philharmonic Orchestra, about how the concert came about.
The first event will be held in September 2023, and planning for the second event is steadily progressing.
(Top image: Photo by Fumiaki Fujimoto / Courtesy of Kanagawa Philharmonic Orchestra)

Why is a professional orchestra collaborating with local junior high school students?

I was lucky enough to get a ticket for the Yokohama Next Concert on the day. The program exceeded my expectations and I was impressed, and I became interested in the unique program.

-It must be quite unusual for a professional orchestra to hold a concert together with a local junior high school, so could you tell us about the background to how this project came about?

Sakakibara : Since 2013, we have been holding Yokohama Pops Orchestra concerts with financial support from the city of Yokohama. However, we decided to change the plan to reflect the changing times, and with the city's approval, we have revamped the current plan on the same scale.

-So that became the new project "Yokohama Next Concert."

Sakakibara : As a new project starting this year, we wanted to create an opportunity for the next generation, who will lead the future, to share the stage at a high level, so we came up with the idea of a concert featuring the Kanagawa Philharmonic Orchestra and a junior high school brass band from Yokohama's 18th ward.

-Hodogaya Ward was the first to be selected. Why was Hodogaya Ward chosen first?

The Kanagawa Art Hall, which Sakakibara Kanagawa Philharmonic uses as a rehearsal venue and is also the designated manager, is located in Hodogaya Ward. Because of this connection, we have had a long-standing relationship with Hodogaya Junior High School. So, we approached the brass band and made the Yokohama Next Concert 2023 Meets Hodogaya Ward a reality.

(Provided by Kanagawa Philharmonic Orchestra)

Give your children the best experience with professionals

-How were the pieces to be performed at the Yokohama Next Concert selected?

Sakakibara: I made my selection with three key points in mind.
First, as a stage performance for the Hodogaya Junior High School brass band, the selection of songs should highlight the results of their daily practice. Secondly, the performance by the Kanagawa Philharmonic alone should allow audiences to feel the difference between the profound sound of the orchestra and the brass band. Finally, the key point for the collaborative pieces by Hodogaya Junior High School and the Kanagawa Philharmonic was that they should be easy to play while highlighting the best of the junior high school students.

(Provided by Kanagawa Philharmonic Orchestra)

-So that's how you decided! Please tell us some stories about your instruction at school and the day of the concert.

Sakakibara : For the first workshop prior to the concert, members of the Kanagawa Philharmonic Orchestra's wind and percussion instruments came to give instruction to the wind orchestra. For the second workshop, conductor Kanade Yokoyama came to give instruction so that the band could enjoy themselves with confidence during the concert.

(Provided by Kanagawa Philharmonic Orchestra)

The students who were unable to perform on stage during Sakakibara's performance were dedicated to the important role of entertaining the audience with their dance. The junior high school students were nervous on the day, but I think they were able to fully demonstrate the results of their practice.

- The students' dance was like a stage production of a "come down into the audience" dance, it was vibrant and fun. It was fun to watch too!

(Photo: Fumiaki Fujimoto / Courtesy: Kanagawa Philharmonic Orchestra)

At the Sakakibara rehearsal, Mr. Koji Yamada, the brass band's advisor, encouraged the students, and they all responded by saying, "I want the audience to have a good time," and they got better and better. Even as the organizer, it was very moving.

I think it was also very inspiring for the orchestra members to attend the workshops, spend time with the children during rehearsals and performances, and see how much they have grown.

--I also sang along to "Yokohama City Song" in my heart. I can't wait for the next one. Has the 2024 "Yokohama Next Concert" been decided yet?

Sakakibara: We are currently in the process of making arrangements and cannot announce details, but the event will be held at Yokohama Minato Mirai Hall in September 2024.

- I'm looking forward to it. Thank you very much.

Kanagawa Philharmonic Orchestra "Yokohama Next Concert"
*Details will be announced at a later date
Performance date: September 2024
Venue: Yokohama Minato Mirai Hall
Official website: here