Yukio Fujioka (conductor)

He served as assistant to Sir Georg Solti, the last beloved disciple of Akio Watanabe, a leading figure in the Japanese conducting world. He graduated from the Royal Northern College of Music in the UK with a degree in conducting. He was exceptionally awarded the Sir Charles Groves Memorial Scholarship, given to the most talented young conductors in EU member states, despite being Japanese. Since his debut conducting the BBC Philharmonic at the London Proms in 1994, he has made numerous guest appearances with orchestras overseas. He has collaborated with the Kansai Philharmonic Orchestra as its principal conductor, performing more than 40 concerts annually, and 2026 will mark his 27th season with the orchestra. From April 2025, he will also lead the orchestra as general director. From 2019, he will serve as principal guest conductor of the Tokyo City Philharmonic Orchestra, and from April 2026, he will serve as artistic advisor to the Chubu Philharmonic Orchestra. He currently appears as conductor and host with the Kansai Philharmonic Orchestra on BS TV Tokyo's "Enter the Music" (every Saturday at 8:30 AM, archived and available on BS TV Tokyo's official YouTube channel), a popular program now in its 12th year and approaching its 600th episode. He received the Akio Watanabe Music Foundation Music Award in 2002.

Yukio Fujioka's official fan site

Toki Mizuno (double bass)

Born in 2003 in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture. Began playing the double bass at the age of 12. Graduated from Tokai High School and then from the Tokyo University of the Arts, Faculty of Music, at the top of her class. Received the Acanthus Music Award, Fukushima Award, Ataka Award, and the Ryohei Miyata Scholarship at the university. Grand Prix winner at the 1st Izumi-no-Mori Double Bass Competition. 1st place in the string section of the 21st Tokyo Music Competition. 2nd place in the Age-U category of the string instrument section at the 24th Osaka International Music Competition. Recipient of the Aoyama Music Foundation Scholarship in 2024. Has performed as a soloist with orchestras such as the Osaka Symphony Orchestra, New Japan Philharmonic Orchestra, and Geidai Philharmonia Orchestra. He has performed at numerous festivals including La Folle Journée TOKYO, Tokyo Spring Music Festival, Miyazaki International Music Festival, Kitakyushu International Music Festival, Blue Sea and Forest Music Festival, Seiji Ozawa Matsumoto Festival, Tokyo University of the Arts Sogakudo Morning Concert, the 51st Geidai Regular Chamber Music Concert, and NHK-FM's "Recital Passio." He has also held recitals at venues such as Nippon Steel Kioi Hall and Makomanai Rokkatei Hall. As a core member of the Japan National Orchestra, he participates in tours throughout Japan. He has studied under Toshiaki Sakakibara, Hide Yoshida, Hiroshi Ikematsu, and Shigeru Ishikawa. He is currently the principal double bassist of the Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra.

日本フィルハーモニー交響楽団

Founded in June 1956, the orchestra's founding was spearheaded by Akio Watanabe, who served as its first principal conductor. From its inception, the orchestra's broad repertoire and innovative performance style brought a breath of fresh air to the then-dominated music scene, which was primarily dominated by German and Austrian orchestras, creating a major sensation. Since September 2023, Kah-Chun Wong has served as principal conductor, and his originality and sincere approach to music-making have garnered significant attention. The orchestra's recent high level of performance and proactive programming have been praised for "clearly demonstrating the direction that Japanese orchestras should aim for in the 21st century," earning it the Music Pen Club Music Award. Led by conductors such as Conductor Laureate Ken-Ichiro Kobayashi, Conductor Laureate and Artistic Advisor Alexander Lazarev, and Friend of JPO (Artistic Advisor) Junichi Hirokami, the orchestra performs over 150 concerts annually. With artistic merit and social responsibility as its two driving forces, and while cherishing a foundation of "warmth" and "empathy," the group aims to utilize the diverse powers of music for all people, generations, and communities.

Official Website

Organizer

Ota Ward Cultural Promotion Association, Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation for History and Culture, Tokyo Bunka Kaikan

Planning cooperation

Tokyo Orchestra Business Cooperative Association

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