Junichi Hirokami
Encyclopedia
is a Japanese conductor
.
Born in Tokyo
, Hirokami studied conducting, piano, musicology, and viola at the Tokyo College of Music. He won the first Kondrashin International Conducting Competition in Amsterdam in September 1984 at age 26. One of the judges of that competition, pianist Vladimir Ashkenazy
, then engaged Hirokami to conduct the NHK Symphony Orchestra
on a tour of Japan with Ashkenazy in May 1985.
From 1991-1996, he was Chief Conductor of the Norrköping Symphony Orchestra
. He served as Chief Conductor of the Limburg Symphony Orchestra
from 1998 to 2000. He has also been the Principal Guest Conductor of both the Japan Philharmonic Orchestra
and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra
.
Hirokami became the Music Director of the Columbus Symphony Orchestra
on June 1, 2006, with an initial contract for 3 years. During the orchestra's 2008 financial crisis, Hirokami strongly supported the musicians during a protracted contract dispute, which caused strained relations between Hirokami and the orchestra's board and management. On November 13, 2008, in a letter to the orchestra's musicians, Hirokami announced that the board of the Columbus Symphony Orchestra had dismissed him from his post, effective immediately. Since April 2008, he has served as Chief Conductor of the Kyoto Symphony Orchestra, with an initial contract of 3 years.
Hirokami and his wife Yukari have a daughter, Kimiko. In 1973, pop singer Junko Sakurada
's music inspired then 15-year-old Hirokami so that he started a fan club dedicated to her.
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
.
Born in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, Hirokami studied conducting, piano, musicology, and viola at the Tokyo College of Music. He won the first Kondrashin International Conducting Competition in Amsterdam in September 1984 at age 26. One of the judges of that competition, pianist Vladimir Ashkenazy
Vladimir Ashkenazy
Vladimir Davidovich Ashkenazy is a Russian-Icelandic conductor and pianist. Since 1972 he has been a citizen of Iceland, his wife Þórunn's country of birth. Since 1978, because of his many obligations in Europe, he and his family have resided in Meggen, near Lucerne in Switzerland...
, then engaged Hirokami to conduct the NHK Symphony Orchestra
NHK Symphony Orchestra
The in Tokyo, Japan began as the New Symphony Orchestra on October 5, 1926 and was the country's first professional symphony orchestra. Later, it changed its name to Japan Symphony Orchestra and in 1951, after receiving financial support from NHK, it took its current name...
on a tour of Japan with Ashkenazy in May 1985.
From 1991-1996, he was Chief Conductor of the Norrköping Symphony Orchestra
Norrköping Symphony Orchestra
Norrköping Symphony Orchestra is a Swedish professional symphony orchestra, based at the concert hall De Geerhallen, in the middle of Norrköping.-History:...
. He served as Chief Conductor of the Limburg Symphony Orchestra
Limburgs Symfonie Orkest
The Limburg Symphony Orchestra is a Dutch orchestra based in Maastricht in the province of Limburg, The Netherlands. It is one of the Netherlands’ oldest professional symphony orchestras. The Limburg Symphony Orchestra gives more than one hundred performances a season and occupies a significant...
from 1998 to 2000. He has also been the Principal Guest Conductor of both the Japan Philharmonic Orchestra
Japan Philharmonic Orchestra
The , is an orchestra based in Tokyo, Japan.-History:The Japan Philharmonic Orchestra was founded on June 22, 1956, as the exclusive subsidiary orchestra under the Nippon Cultural Broadcasting. Akeo Watanabe served the first Chief conductor of the orchestra...
and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra
The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Society is a society based in Liverpool, Merseyside, England, that organises concerts and other events mainly in the field of classical music. The society is the second oldest of its type in the United Kingdom and its orchestra, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic...
.
Hirokami became the Music Director of the Columbus Symphony Orchestra
Columbus Symphony Orchestra
The Columbus Symphony is an American symphony orchestra based in Columbus, Ohio. The oldest performing arts organization in the city, its home is the Ohio Theatre. The orchestra's current President and Chief Creative Officer is Roland Valliere...
on June 1, 2006, with an initial contract for 3 years. During the orchestra's 2008 financial crisis, Hirokami strongly supported the musicians during a protracted contract dispute, which caused strained relations between Hirokami and the orchestra's board and management. On November 13, 2008, in a letter to the orchestra's musicians, Hirokami announced that the board of the Columbus Symphony Orchestra had dismissed him from his post, effective immediately. Since April 2008, he has served as Chief Conductor of the Kyoto Symphony Orchestra, with an initial contract of 3 years.
Hirokami and his wife Yukari have a daughter, Kimiko. In 1973, pop singer Junko Sakurada
Junko Sakurada
is a Japanese singer and actress. She was part of a music trio in 1973, which included Momoe Yamaguchi and Masako Mori. Sakurada then became successful in a solo music career. In 1979 Sakurada appeared in a film made by the production company Toho, and became popular as an actress...
's music inspired then 15-year-old Hirokami so that he started a fan club dedicated to her.
External links
- Kyoto Symphony Orchestra English-language page on Hirokami
- Hazard Chase (agency), "Junichi Hirokami appointed chief conductor of the Kyoto Symphony Orchestra". September 2007.
- Los Angeles Philharmonic biography of Hirokami, April 2000
- Limburg Symphony Orchestra Dutch-language page on orchestra history