He entered Toho Gakuen High School, the music course, in 1977. He studied cello under Yoritoyo Inoue and conduction under Tadaaki Odaka, Seiji Ozawa. Kazuyoshi Akiyama and the late Tadashi Mori. From December 1985 until Karajan died, he was as assistant of Karajan. There is an anecdote about him. At the concert of Berlin Philharmony Orchestra in 1986, he conducted N0.9 in his jeans instead of Karajan, who was suddenly taken ill. After that success, he gained experiences in orchestras from around Europe.
While he was in Toho Gakuen School of Music, he won the championship at the 48th Japan Music Contest. After he graduated from her alma mater at the top honors of the year, he won the championship in succession at the 28th Maria Canals International Music Competition, the 2nd Japan International Music Contest and the 2nd Pretoria International Contest. Since 1985, he has done his international music activities mainly in London and Japan. In 1993 she received the 20th Japan Chopin Association Prize with his performance of Chopin Etude.
MA XIAOHUI is one of the best traditional Chinese instrument performers of today. She is erhu soloist and concert master of the traditional Chinese Music Orchestra of Shanghai, member of the Shanghai Musicians' Association and adviser to the Hong Kong Youth Music Society. She has been nominated for the "Ten Best Young Artists of Shanghai Award 93", awarded the 1995 Baogang Cup for Outstanding Performance of Classical Art and nominated for an International Woman of the Year for 1998/99", an "International Woman of the Millennium" by International Biographical Centre of Cambridge.
Okura Shonosuke is the oldest son of the late Okura Chojiro, who had the 15th Generation in a long line of traditional Noh performers. Originally. Okura studied The kotsuzumi (small dram) under his father, making his first appearance on the Noh stage at the age of eight. At 17, Okura changed to the otszumi (large dram) which he continues to use today.
In addition to traditional Noh performances, Okura is engaged in planning and performing many different kinds of native performing arts and music, including Noh, invarious countries around the world.
Yamashita formed his trio in 1969. In '98, he played Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue" with 'Orchestre des Concerts Lamoureux' conducted by Yutaka Sado In Paris. He made the film score for Shohel Imamura's "Kanzo Sensei (Dr.Akagi)" , and received " The Education Minister's. Encouragement Award," In January, 2000, He did the world premiere of his original piano concerto "Encounter for Improviser. His newest CD "Resonant Memories" will be released in September.
KPO was established at Yokohama in 1970. KPO is the only professional orchestra in Kanagawa Prefecture. After KPO became a foundation in 1978, it has received supports from local companies. Kanagawa Pref., Yokohama. Kawasaki and the Agency for Cultural Affairs also offer supports. In 1991 Kazuo Yamada was inaugurated as the first musical supervisor. The second was Yuzo Toyama. In 1996 Ikuma Dan was inaugurated as the Artistic Adviser. Yukinori Tezuka has been a regular conductor. Shigco Genda has been a conductor. Kotaro Sato has been a guest conductor. KPO is expected its future as the most hopeful orchestra.
