Kanagawa Philharmonic Orchestra collaborates with local junior high school students!

``Yokohama Next Concert'' is a concert in which the Kanagawa Philharmonic Orchestra (hereinafter referred to as the Kanagawa Philharmonic Orchestra) collaborated with junior high school students in Yokohama City. We spoke to Toru Sakakibara, head of music at the Kanagawa Philharmonic, about how the program came to be.
The first event will be held in September 2023, and planning for the second event is also progressing steadily.
(Top image Photography: Fumiaki Fujimoto/Courtesy of Kanagawa Philharmonic Orchestra)

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

I was lucky with the timing and went to see the Yokohama Next Concert with a same-day ticket. I was impressed by the program, which exceeded my expectations, and became interested in this unique project.

-I think it's quite rare for a professional orchestra to hold a concert together with a local junior high school. Please tell us about the background behind the idea.

Sakakibara Since 2013, we have been performing "Yokohama Pops Orchestra" concerts with a business grant from Yokohama City, but due to changes in the times, we decided to change the plan, and with the consent of the city, we will be holding concerts of the same size as the current one. The plan has been revised.

―That became the new project “Yokohama Next Concert”.

Sakakibara: As a new project starting this year, we wanted to create an opportunity to share the stage with the next generation who will carry the future at a high level, so we came up with a concert in which the Kanagawa Philharmonic Orchestra and a junior high school brass band from the 18th ward of Yokohama City would co-star.

-Hodogaya Ward was the first. Why was Hodogaya Ward chosen first?

Kanagawa Art Hall, which is used by the Sakakibara Kanagawa Philharmonic as a rehearsal venue and is also designated as a management facility, is located in Hodogaya Ward. Due to that connection, I have been on good terms with Hodogaya Junior High School for some time. Therefore, we reached out to the brass band and made the ``Yokohama Next Concert 2023 Meets Hodogaya Ward'' a reality.

(Courtesy of Kanagawa Philharmonic Orchestra)

Give children the best experience with professionals

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

SakakibaraI chose this while keeping in mind three important points.
First of all, the selection of music that will be used as the Hodogaya Junior High School brass band stage reflects the fruits of their daily practice. Secondly, when the Kanagawa Philharmonic performs only, you can feel the difference between the deep sound of the orchestra and the brass band. Finally, for the joint performance of Hodogaya Junior High School and the Kanagawa Philharmonic Orchestra, we aimed to highlight the good points of the junior high school students while also being able to play it easily.

(Courtesy of Kanagawa Philharmonic Orchestra)

-That's how you decided! Please tell us about your school guidance and the day of the concert.

As a pre- Sakakibara workshop, for the first time, members of the Kanagawa Philharmonic's wind and percussion ensembles came to teach wind instruments. The second time we went, we had conductor Kanade Yokoyama, who gave us guidance so that we could enjoy the concert with confidence.

(Courtesy of Kanagawa Philharmonic Orchestra)

The students who were unable to take to the stage for the Sakakibara performance did their best to entertain the audience with their dance. On the day of the event, the junior high school students were all nervous, but I think they were able to fully demonstrate the results they had practiced so far.

-The students' dance was like a stage production of ``the audience descending,'' and it looked gorgeous and fun. I enjoyed watching this too!

(Photo: Fumiaki Fujimoto / Provided by: Kanagawa Philharmonic Orchestra)

At Sakakibara rehearsals, Mr. Koji Yamada, who serves as the brass band's advisor, inspires the students, and everyone responds by saying, ``I want the audience to have fun,'' and they get better and better. As the organizer, it was very heart-warming.

I think it was very stimulating for the orchestra members to attend workshops, spend time with them during rehearsals and performances, and feel the children's growth.

―I was also singing ``Yokohama City Song'' in my heart. I can't wait for the next time. Has the 2024 “Yokohama Next Concert” been decided?

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

-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
Performance location: Yokohama Minato Mirai Hall
Official website: here