Audition information for orchestra members

What is the Chofu Festival Orchestra?

This orchestra was inaugurated at the Chofu Music Festival 2016. Every year, the orchestra is composed of young musicians who have passed an audition.

Each part is headed by an internationally renowned soloist or principal player of major orchestras (NHK Symphony Orchestra, Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra etc.), who responded to a direct request from Masato Suzuki, Executive Producer of the Chofu International Music Festival. During the rehearsal period, they will provide guidance and advice to the young musicians together with the conductor Masaaki Suzuki.

Application period: March 20th <Wed.> - April 18th <Thu.>

Qualification requirements

・About 35 years old and under.
・Must be capable of performing this program and have skills at the same level as music college students.
・Must be able to participate in all rehearsals and performance schedules
*Must also attend the section rehearsals scheduled before the orchestra rehearsals.

Types of Instruments

Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass, Flute, Flute＆Piccolo, Oboe, Oboe＆English horn, Clarinet, Bassoon, Contrabassoon, Horn, Trumpet, Trombone, Bass trombone, Serpent or Ophicleide or Tuba, Harp, Timpani, Percussion, Harpsichord
*Flute and Oboe players who want to perform the Symphonie Fantastique must be able to switch the instrument during the play.
*Trumpet players who want to play the natural trumpet in the Beethoven, or play the cornet in the Berlioz, please let us know when you apply.

Schedule

・Rehearsals: June 18th to June 21th
・Performance date: June 22th
・Venue Chofu Green Hall, Main Hall
*We may ask auditioning players with excellent skills to perform at several satellite concerts in Chofu City (We will cover the participation fee of those who perform at these concerts).

How to apply

・Fill the application form ( Name, Age, Instrumental, Short biography, Reason for application).
・Submit performance video (Audio-only recordings will not be accepted).

About application video

・The application video should have been recorded in the last 12 months
・Complete a set piece and a free piece (free piece must be about 5 minutes long)
・The video must be uploaded on YouTube as unlisted. You must copy and paste the URL on the application form.

Participation Fee

20,000 yen (not refundable)

・Includes one complimentary ticket
・The scores will be provided
・We will inform those who pass the audition about the payment method

Concert repertoire

Vivaldi: Concerto for 4 violins and cello in B minor, RV.580(from L'estro Armonico)
Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 4 in G major, Op.58
Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique Op.14

Conductor: Masaaki SUZUKI

Soloist: Tomoki SAKATA (Piano)

Teachers

Concertmaster: Kei SHIRAI (Former Guest concertmaster at NHK Symphony Orchestra Tokyo)
Violin: Seiji OKAMOTO (Winner of ARD International Music Competition)
Violin: Iri TAKIMURA (Principal at Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra)
Violin: Keita HORIE (Associate concertmaster at Kansai Philharmonic Orchestra)
Viola: Hiroshi NARITA (Principal at Yamagata Symphony Orchestra)
Cello: Toru YAMAMOTO (Bach Collegium Japan)
Double Bass: Shigeru ISHIKAWA (Solo Double Bass at Yomiuri Nippon SymphonyOrchestra, Professor at Senzoku Gakuen College of Music)
Flute: Seiya UENO (Grand-Prix winner of the 2008 Jean-Pierre Rampal International Competition)
Oboe: Kanami ARAKI (Former Principal at Tokyo Symphony Orchestra)
Clarinet: Dirk ALTMANN (Principal at Southwest German Radio Symphony Orchestra)
Bassoon: Tetsuya CHO (Principal at Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony ORchestra)
Horn: Kaname HAMAJI (Principal at Gunma Symphony Orchestra)
Trumpet: Hidenori SAITO (Bach Collegium Japan)
Trombone: Mayumi SHIMIZU (Principal at Southwest German Radio Symphony Orchestra)
Tuba: Shinya HASHIMOTO（Lecturer at Senzoku Gakuen College of Music）
Harp: Reine TAKANO（Part-time lecturer of Tokyo University of the Arts）
Timpani: Atsushi SUGAHARA (Professor at Tokyo College of Music and Senzoku Gakuen College of Music)
Harpsichord: Masato SUZUKI (Executive producer at Chofu international music festival)

The Chofu International Music Festival Official website→ http://www.chofumusicfestival.com/

Note

・No performance fee and as a general rule expenses related to musical instruments and travel expenses are to be paid by the individual. (Except harp, timpani, percussion, harpsichord) However, we may be able to support your travel expenses, so please contact our office.
・We will film and take pictures at the rehearsals and the performance for the purpose of recording and publicity.

Past Festival Orchestra

Executive Producer: Masato Suzuki
Associate Producer: Yui Morishita
Senior Advisor: Masaaki Suzuki
Communication Advisor: Keiko Hirano
Organized by Chofu City Cultural & Community Promotion Foundation, Chofu City
Cooperation: Toho Gakuen Collage

To inquire
The Chofu International Music Festival (Chofu City Cultural & Community Promotion Foundation)
E-Mail: butai@chofu-culture-community.org