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GUNMA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

GUNMA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

Band overview

Overview

Purpose of establishment

The Gunma Symphony Orchestra conducts projects related to the spread and development of the musical arts through symphonic orchestras, and its main purpose is to contribute to the improvement of culture in Gunma Prefecture and the promotion of emotional education for young people.

Introduction to annual activities

With the motto of "bringing the orchestra closer to you," we will deliver the excitement of real music.

The Gunma Symphony Orchestra is a regionally-rooted orchestra that is beloved by everyone and is one of Japan's leading orchestras.We aim to become a global standard orchestra by providing high-quality concerts with extensive planning and outstanding performance techniques.
We also carry out a wide range of activities, including music education programs for young people and on-site performances.

Subscription Concert

In order to improve the quality of the orchestra and pursue musical art, we invite top-class guests from Japan and abroad, and feature a wide range of programs from highly artistic and popular works to unknown masterpieces. Based on global standards, we will prove our world-class quality and value through this Subscription Concert.

Tomo Subscription concert

By holding the same program as Subscription Concerts in the eastern region of the prefecture, we aim to expand opportunities to appreciate Gunma Prefecture's culture as a symbol.

Tokyo Subscription concert

By holding a voluntary concert in Tokyo every year, we aim to communicate our global standard performance skills outside of the prefecture and increase the orchestra's profile.

chamber music concert

We offer a different kind of enjoyment from the dynamics of an orchestra, such as small ensemble performances with individual instruments. You can enjoy famous chamber music pieces and pieces arranged for chamber music, selected by one of the performers as a producer.

Meet the orchestra!

Under the theme of "Meet the Orchestra! - Opening the door to the orchestra for many people," we hold concerts such as "Concerts for ages 0 and up with the orchestra!", "Summer Vacation Concerts", and "Gunkyo Flat Concerts".

Prefectural music plaza

We participate in the prefectural art festival ``Prefectural Music Plaza'' jointly with the prefecture, city, and town, contributing to the understanding of music among prefectural residents and the spread and promotion of musical culture.

commissioned concert

We provide high-quality performances and moving performances at concerts held upon request from companies and organizations. In addition to responding to requests for songs, we also travel to various locations to perform. If you are considering a full orchestra performance for customer service or various commemorative events, please feel free to contact us.

Mobile music classroom

1947年(昭和22年)5月29日に群馬県安中市から始まった移動音楽教室は、1982年(昭和57年)からシステム化され、県内の小中学生は3年に1回オーケストラを聴くという群馬県独自のシステムとして定着しています。2022年(令和4年)度までに646万人を超える児童・生徒が鑑賞し、群馬県のクラシック文化=オーケストラ文化を今日まで作り上げ、地方文化の根底を支える活動として県民に広く認知されています。

High school music class

As the next stage of our mobile music classes, we provide high school students in Gunma Prefecture with the opportunity to listen to music in a more serious program. The purpose is to make classical music more familiar and to foster a rich sense of emotion.

Mobile music class for children “Gunbyou Piyo Piyo Concert”

We go to kindergartens and nursery schools to perform concerts with the aim of nurturing a love of art and imagination by getting children familiar with live music from an early age and experiencing the joy of music. We have adopted an experience program where children can express themselves physically by singing along to easy-to-understand and fun classical music and nursery rhymes. *Gunma Prefecture commissioned project

An ensemble concert that touches the heart

As a familiar orchestra, our orchestra members travel to local facilities to perform concerts in order to spread the local musical culture. Our small ensemble provides authentic music and excitement to those who cannot come to the concert hall. *Takasaki City commissioned project

Musical instrument seminar

We are implementing this in cooperation with local governments, boards of education, and cultural facilities. Members of the Gunma Symphony Orchestra will provide direct instruction to junior high school brass band and wind orchestra students in Gunma Prefecture. This is a valuable opportunity for children to experience face-to-face demonstration performances, technical consultation, and detailed advice, which brings out the children's motivation and spirit of challenge.

Cultural arts experience project

This is a concert for children from all over the country who will be the leaders of the next generation. This is a cultural experience project that aims to improve creativity, communication skills, and art appreciation skills, and is a place where the know-how cultivated through mobile music classes can be provided to children outside the prefecture. *Agency for Cultural Affairs commissioned project

The history of the orchestra

1945 20 October Founded as Takasaki Citizen Orchestra.
1945 20 October Founded as Takasaki Citizen Orchestra.
1946 21 October 1st Subscription Concert (conductor: Naotada Yamamoto, first permanent conductor, venue: Takasaki City Girls' High School Auditorium).
October The name was changed to "Gunma Philharmonic Orchestra".
1947 22 October Relaunched as a professional.
October Conducted the first mobile music class in Annaka City.
1949 24 October Yoshijiro Koike appointed as permanent conductor.
October Approved as a foundation.
1950 25 October Subsidy provided by Gunma Prefecture and Takasaki City.
1955 30 October Release of the movie "There Is a Spring Here" based on the Gunkyo (Director: Tadashi Imai, Cast: Keiko Kishi, Eiji Okada, Keiju Kobayashi)
October 10th Subscription Concert commemorating the 36th anniversary of our founding (conductor: Akio Watanabe, venue: Gunma Kaikan).
1956 31 October Gunma Prefecture is designated as a "music model prefecture" by the Ministry of Education.
1957 32 October First performance at the Gunma Prefectural Assembly.
1961 36 October Gunma Music Center completed.
October Gunkyo 15th Anniversary Concert Conductor: Seiji Ozawa (Gunma Music Center).
October Masao Kai is appointed as permanent conductor.
1962 37 October Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Festival Special Concerts for the Kyoto, Sapporo, and Takasaki Symphony Orchestras begin (until 1964).
1963 38 October First Tokyo performance (conductor: Masao Kai, venue: Tokyo Bunka Kaikan).
October The name was changed to "Gunma Symphony Orchestra Foundation". Keizaburo Sumiya appointed as chairman.
October Hans Hoerner becomes permanent conductor.
1964 39 October First national broadcast on NHK TV (conductor: Hans Hoerner).
1966 41 October 20th Anniversary Concert (conductor: Hans Hoerner) Received the Asahi Bright Society Award from Asahi Shimbun.
1967 42 October The 1st Takasaki City Music Festival was held (until 1973).
1968 43 October Kazuo Yamada appointed as artistic director. Shinji Toyama appointed as permanent conductor.
1969 44 October 100th Subscription Concert (conductor: Kazuo Yamada).
1970 45 October 25th anniversary Subscription Concert (conductor: Shinji Toyama).
1972 47 October Started broadcasting Subscription Concerts on NHK Maebashi FM.
1973 48 October Participated in the Agency for Cultural Affairs Traveling Arts Festival, performed in 14 cities nationwide with the Nikikai performance opera ``The Barber of Seville'' (from Niigata to Kagoshima with ``Carmen'' in 1974, ``Madama Butterfly'' in 1975, and ``The Marriage of Figaro'' in 1977) National touring performance).
October Performance of ``Ninth Symphony'' hosted by Maebashi Roon.
1974 49 October Shinji Toyama appointed as music director. Ario Ban appointed as permanent conductor.
October Performance of "Ninth Symphony" sponsored by Takasaki City Music Appreciation Society.
1975 50 October Agency for Cultural Affairs Traveling Arts Festival Opera Performance ``Madame Butterfly''.
1976 51 October The 1st "Handmade Concert by 21 Citizens and the Symphony Orchestra" (Conductor: Yasushi Akutagawa, Venue: Gunma Music Center).
1977 52 October Establishment of Kanshinetsu Music Association Foundation (Chairman: Kentaro Hayashi).
October The 1st Niigata Prefecture Traveling Music School sponsored by the Kanshinetsu Music Association.
October Performance at the 1st Gunma Arts and Culture Festival "Prefectural Art Theater".
1978 53 October Kotaro Sato appointed as permanent conductor.
October 30th anniversary concert (conductor: Shinji Toyama, Naozumi Yamamoto).
October The first Forest and Orchestra event was held in Gunma Forest.
1979 54 October Appeared on TBS TV's "The Orchestra Has Come" (Conductor: Seiji Ozawa, Venue: Shibukawa Civic Hall).
1980 55 October First recording (conductor: Koji Toyoda, clarinet: Karl Leister).
October Kusatsu Summer International Music Academy begins.
1981 56 October 200th Subscription Concert (Conductor: Shinji Toyama)
October Ichiro Shimizu was appointed as chairman, and Koji Toyoda was appointed as music director.
1982 57 October High school music class officially started as a system. Supporting membership system launched
1983 58 October Performed at the Akagi National Athletic Meet Ceremony. Received the group award for "Regional Cultural Meritorious Person" from the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.
1985 60 October Performed at Tsukuba Expo 85 opening concert.
1987 62 October Yukinori Tezuka appointed as permanent conductor. Concert commemorating the 40th anniversary of the company's founding and the appointment of Yukinori Tezuka as permanent conductor.
1988 63 October Fellow musicians from all over the country held the "Habatake Gunkyo Ganbare Concert" in Takasaki.
October ``Association of Prefectural Citizens to Support Gunkyo'' is established.
1989 XNUMX October The 1st Maebashi Citizen Masterpiece Concert is held.
October The Gunma Symphony Orchestra choir formed and won the 11th Yuzo Yamamoto Memorial Local Culture Award.
October The Gunma Symphony Orchestra Chorus makes its first appearance at the 277th Subscription Concert.
1990 Heisei 2 October Appeared at the 1st Takasaki Music Festival.
1991 Heisei 3 October A total of over 500 million children and students have attended the mobile music classroom.
1992 Heisei 4 October Seiji Ozawa appeared at the 298th Group Symphony Orchestra Subscription Concert.
October 300th Subscription Concert (conductor: Yukinori Tezuka). Performed the performance form "Cosi fan tutte".
1993 Heisei 5 October Ken Takaseki appointed as music director.
October Music director inaugural concert.
October The first performance in Osaka was held.
1994 Heisei 6 October Their first overseas performances were mainly appearances at the "Prague Spring International Music Festival" and "Vienna Arts Week."
October Received the "Japanese Cultural Design Award".
1995 Heisei 7 October Received the 4th Japan Lifestyle Culture Award Special Award.
October A series of concerts of Beethoven's complete symphonies is held in Gunma, Tokyo (until December). It will be released on CD.
October Music recording for the movie "Sleeping Man". 50th anniversary concert.
1996 Heisei 8 October At the 336th Subscription Concert and Tokyo performance, the world premiere of Toshio Hosokawa's ``Long View II'' for orchestra, commissioned to commemorate the company's 50th anniversary. It will be released on CD.
1997 Heisei 9 October To commemorate the 200th anniversary of Brahms' death, a concert of all his symphonies and concertos will be held (until November). It will be released on CD.
1998 Heisei 10 October Appeared at the 49th National Tree Planting Festival (held in Gunma Prefecture).
1999 Heisei 11 October Mahler: Symphony No. 9 performed at Sumida Triphony Hall. It will be released on CD.
2000 Heisei 12 October Performed a memorial performance at the funeral of the late Keizo Obuchi, an honorary citizen of Gunma Prefecture.
2001 Heisei 13 October Certified by the Agency for Cultural Affairs as an organization eligible for ``Special Support for Art Creation (Arts Plan 21)''.
October They will perform at the opening and closing ceremonies of the 16th National Cultural Festival Gunma 2001, and will also hold a special concert titled ``Resonating Tomorrow, the Sparkle of an Angel'' as a commemorative project.
2003 Heisei 15 October Received the ``Kanto-Koshinetsu Regional Broadcast Culture Award'' from the Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK) for playing an extremely important role in disseminating and promoting regional music culture.
October To commemorate the 400th Subscription Concert, "Falstaff" was performed at Sumida Triphony Hall and Gunma Music Center (conductor: Ken Takaseki).
October NHK's program "Project X" will feature the Gunma Symphony Orchestra in its early days.
2004 Heisei 16 October Appeared in the Agency for Cultural Affairs' authentic performing arts experience project (Chubu, Hokuriku, Tohoku, Hokkaido).
October Performed at the general closing ceremony of "Nenrin Pick Gunma".
October A mobile music class was held for Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress and Their Royal Highnesses the Queen of Denmark (conductor: Ken Takaseki).
2005 Heisei 17 October Recorded the theme song for the NHK TV drama series "Fight", which will be broadcast from April.
October Niigata Prefecture Chuetsu Earthquake Charity Concert was held.
2006 Heisei 18 October To commemorate the 60th anniversary of our founding, we will hold commemorative exhibitions and lobby concerts at the prefectural office and Takasaki City Hall, as well as holding concerts to commemorate our 2th anniversary at the Gunma Music Center and two other venues.
2007 Heisei 19 October Annual number of attendees at Subscription Concert hits record high
October Participated in the 62nd Agency for Cultural Affairs Arts Festival (participating performance: October 10th Tokyo performance)
2009 Heisei 21 October Participated in the Agency for Cultural Affairs' ``Authentic Performing Arts Experience Project'' as a performing group.
2010 Heisei 22 October More than 600 million children and students have viewed the mobile music classroom
2010 Heisei 22 October Ryunori Numajiri appointed as principal conductor and artistic advisor of the Symphony Orchestra
2010 Heisei 22 October Ryunori Numajiri Appointment Announcement as Principal Conductor and Artistic Advisor of the Symphony Orchestra (463rd Subscription Concert)
2011 Heisei 23 October Great East Japan Earthquake Charity Concert (2011 Opening Concert) held
Junichi Hirokami appointed as Friendship Guest Conductor
2012 Heisei 24 October Children's mobile music class (Piyo Piyo Concert) begins Takasaki City ensemble project "Concert that touches the heart"
2013 Heisei 25 October Certified as a public interest incorporated foundation.
Naoto Otomo appointed as Music Director 2015 Opening Concert to Commemorate the Appointment of Music Director
2014 Heisei 26 October 500th Subscription Concert (Conductor: Naoto Otomo)
2015 Heisei 27 October Opera “Madame Butterfly” performance commemorating the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Gunkyo Group (conductor: Keiko Mitsuhashi, Kiryu Civic Cultural Center, Beisia Cultural Hall)
October Main performance commemorating the 70th anniversary of our founding: 513th Subscription Concert (conductor: Naoto Otomo).
High school music class audience reaches 70
2016 Heisei 28 October Held regularly in April, Subscription Concerts will be held 4 times a year.
2017 Heisei 29 October Prefectural Art Festival 40th Anniversary Award (Gunma Prefectural Educational and Cultural Corporation)
2018 Heisei 30 October Appeared as the host orchestra in Japan during Asia Orchestra Week.
2019 Heisei 31 October Kenichiro Kobayashi appointed as music advisor.
2019 Reiwa XNUMX October Based at Takasaki Arts Theater.
2020 October A concert commemorating the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Gunkyo Group was held. (Conductor: Kazuki Yamada Venue: Tokyo Opera City, Takasaki Arts Theater)

past conductors

artistic director

Kazuo Yamada December 1968 - November 12

Music director

Shinji Toyama April 1974 - March 4

Koji Toyota April 1981 - March 4

Ken Takaseki January 1993 - March 1

Naoto Otomo April 2013 - March 4

principal guest conductor

Martin Turnovski April 1998 - June 4

chief conductor

Ryunori Numajiri and Artistic Advisor April 2010 - March 4

Chief Conductor

Naotada Yamamoto March 1946 - February 3

Yoshijiro Koike April 1949 - March 4

Masao Kai September 1961 - July 9

Hans Hoerner September 1963 - May 9

Shinji Toyama April 1968 - March 12

Ario Ban April 1974 - March 4

Kotaro Sato February 1978 - March 2

Yukinori Tezuka April 1987 - March 4

Guest conductor/Subscription Concert/conductor

Shinji Toyama Conductor April 1965 - November 4

David Sharon Guest Conductor June 1983 - June 6

Lim Kek-chan Guest Conductor March 1982 - July 3

Naohiro Totsuka Subscription Concert April 1988 - March 4

Shigenobu Yamaoka Conductor March 1982 - March 3

Takuo Yuasa Conductor April 1984 - April 4

Makoto Kokubun Conductor April 1992 - March 4

Kazuyoshi Tanaka Conductor April 1992 - March 4

Makoto Suehiro Conductor April 1992 - March 4

Junichi Hirokami Friendship Guest Conductor April 2011 - March 4