Hong-Jae Kim
Encyclopedia
Kim Hong-Jae is a Zainichi Korean conductor.
at his mother's maiden home. In 1967, he entered Amagasaki Korean Middle School and studied clarinet
in school band
. He also studied improved Korean folk instruments sent from North Korea
. In 1969, School Band of Amagasaki Korean Middle School won a grand prize of 'Competition of Korean Students resident in Japan' under his direction.
In 1973, Kim entered Toho Gakuen School of Music
as one of the first Korean nationals. He changed his clarinet major to conducting
with Ken Takaseki and Naoto Otomo in 1975. Until his graduation in 1977, he joined the classes of Seiji Ozawa
, Kazuyoshi Akiyama
, Tadashi Mori
and Shunsaku Tsutsumi. On Tsutsumi's recommendation, he was appointed as resident conductor of Tokyo City Philharmonic Orchestra when he studied in Toho. In 1977, he conducted Toho Orchestra with Seiji Ozawa on podium of Toho Gakuen's graduation concert.
, Tokyo. This concert, titled 'Special Concert of (North) Korean Orchestral Works' was sensational response-not only the first conductor of Korean nationality but of any work premièred in Japan.
Following this year, he participated in Tokyo International Conductors' Competition and was awarded the second prize with a special prize named after Hideo Saito. In the same year, he was invited by North Korea to conduct the State Symphony Orchestra of DPRK. In 1980, he conducted the concerts of prizewinners from Hokkaidō
to Kyūshū
.
Kim was appointed as the conductor of television program titled 'Here comes the orchestra' of Tokyo Broadcasting System
(TBS) with Kazushi Ono
and Deryck Inoue in 1980. Following this year, he conducted other television program titled 'My Concert' of Nippon Television
(NTV). During these two years, he conducted numerous works from Bach
to Shostakovich and accompanied many well-known soloists including Hiroko Nakamura
, Mitsuko Uchida
, Toshia Eto, Ko Iwasaki, Jean-Yves Thibaudet
and Mikhail Pletnev
with two regular orchestras-New Japan Philharmonic
and Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra
-and other cities' orchestras.
In 1981, Kim became a principal guest conductor of Tokyo City Philharmonic Orchestra. His other important positions were principal guest conductor of Nagoya Philharmonic Orchestra
since 1985 and principal guest conductor of Kyoto Symphony Orchestra since 1987. He toured with Kyoto Symphony Orchestra in Pyongyang
and Wonsan
-first appearance of Japan's orchestra in North Korea-in 1987. He also appeared in Beijing
with China Broadcasting Symphony Orchestra (now China Philharmonic Orchestra
) in 1988.
in 1986 and became an admirer of his music. He conducted Yun's first work Exemplum, in memoriam Kwangju on stage of '1st Hankyore Concert' in April 1989. He resigned three orchestras' positions and went to Germany
in September. He studied Yun's works with the composer himself.
In 1990, he participated in 'Pan-Nation Unification Concert' held in Pyongyang and conducted Yun's Fanfare und Memorial in presence of the composer. And in 1992, Kim appeared on '75th Birthday Celebration Festival of Isang Yun' held in Tokyo and conducted Yun's Third Symphony premiered in Japan. Kim conducted Over 10 pieces of Yun's works premiered in Japan and was highly praised by the composer.
and concerts of Korean residents in Japan including Hankyoreh Concert (1989–1993). He introduced many North and South Korean songs and orchestral works, including those produced by his maternal uncle Cheol-Woo Lee. The 8th Hankyore Concert held in Carnegie Hall
of New York City
in September 1992 , which was also Kim's début concert in the US.
He also met Joe Hisaishi
, a well-known composer of Hayao Miyazaki
and Takeshi Kitano
's film music, with whom he appeared in many concerts together since 1991. Kim also conducted crossover concerts with Jazz
musicians including Aiko Takahashi and Terumasa Hino
. And he conducted many concert bands in Japan, including Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra
and
Osaka Municipal Symphonic Band, of which he was a principal conductor from 1991 to 1994.
In 1998, he conducted opening ceremony of 7th Winter Paralympic Games
held in Nagano(produced by Hisaishi). Following this appearance, he received music prize named after Akeo Watanabe
and became the only one that won two grand prizes for Japanese conductor at that time.
n violinist Jeong Chan-Woo held a concert named 'Unity Concert' in June 2000. This concert was previously planned in 1985, but South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs
did not approve of Jeong's departure to Japan due to his North Korean nationality. Thus this concert was a famous event not only to Korean residents in Japan but also in South Korea. In October 2000, he visited South Korea for the first time for ASEM
Music Festival held in Seoul
where he conducted Isang Yun's Muak and Asian premiere of Ferruccio Busoni
's Piano Concerto played by the well-known pianist Baek Geon-Woo (Kun-Woo Paik) and KBS Symphony Orchestra
.
At that time Kim still held North Korean nationality
. He switched to South Korean nationality
in August 2005.
By this time, Kim conducted nearly all orchestras of Japan except NHK Symphony Orchestra
. He conducts not only professional but orchestras of university, citizens and other amateur orchestras and concert bands. And he appeared several concerts of KBS Symphony Orchestra, Korean Symphony Orchestra and National Orchestra of Korea in South Korea.
Since November 2007, Kim was appointed to his very first position in South Korea as a principal conductor of the Ulsan Symphony Orchestra.
Early life
The first experience of music at his early age was an upright pianoPiano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
at his mother's maiden home. In 1967, he entered Amagasaki Korean Middle School and studied clarinet
Clarinet
The clarinet is a musical instrument of woodwind type. The name derives from adding the suffix -et to the Italian word clarino , as the first clarinets had a strident tone similar to that of a trumpet. The instrument has an approximately cylindrical bore, and uses a single reed...
in school band
School band
A school band is a group of student musicians who rehearse and perform instrumental music together. A concert band is usually under the direction of one or more conductors...
. He also studied improved Korean folk instruments sent from North Korea
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
. In 1969, School Band of Amagasaki Korean Middle School won a grand prize of 'Competition of Korean Students resident in Japan' under his direction.
In 1973, Kim entered Toho Gakuen School of Music
Toho Gakuen School of Music
is a private conservatoire located in Chōfu, Tokyo, Japan.-History:Toho Gakuen was founded in 1948 in Kudan as a music school for children, and two years later opened the Toho High School of Music, to provide quality musical education to teenage girls. 1955 saw the establishment of the Junior...
as one of the first Korean nationals. He changed his clarinet major to conducting
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...
with Ken Takaseki and Naoto Otomo in 1975. Until his graduation in 1977, he joined the classes of Seiji Ozawa
Seiji Ozawa
is a Japanese conductor, particularly noted for his interpretations of large-scale late Romantic works. He is most known for his work as music director of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and principal conductor of the Vienna State Opera.-Early years:...
, Kazuyoshi Akiyama
Kazuyoshi Akiyama
is a Japanese conductor.-Biography:Born into a musical family, he studied piano at the Toho Gakuen School of Music, but was fascinated by the conducting activities of a fellow student, Seiji Ozawa. He decided to study conducting with Hideo Saito...
, Tadashi Mori
Tadashi Mori
was a Japanese conductor and flautist....
and Shunsaku Tsutsumi. On Tsutsumi's recommendation, he was appointed as resident conductor of Tokyo City Philharmonic Orchestra when he studied in Toho. In 1977, he conducted Toho Orchestra with Seiji Ozawa on podium of Toho Gakuen's graduation concert.
Début, competition, and television concerts
After graduation, Kim was début officially with Tokyo City Philharmonic Orchestra on March 22, 1978 at Shibuya Public HallShibuya Public Hall
or is a live theatre in Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan. It was completed in 1964. In the 1964 Summer Olympics, the weightlifting events took place there.The theatre was sponsored by Dentsu and Suntory, which paid ¥80 million to have its name associated with the building from 2006 to 2011.-External links:*...
, Tokyo. This concert, titled 'Special Concert of (North) Korean Orchestral Works' was sensational response-not only the first conductor of Korean nationality but of any work premièred in Japan.
Following this year, he participated in Tokyo International Conductors' Competition and was awarded the second prize with a special prize named after Hideo Saito. In the same year, he was invited by North Korea to conduct the State Symphony Orchestra of DPRK. In 1980, he conducted the concerts of prizewinners from Hokkaidō
Hokkaido
, formerly known as Ezo, Yezo, Yeso, or Yesso, is Japan's second largest island; it is also the largest and northernmost of Japan's 47 prefectural-level subdivisions. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaido from Honshu, although the two islands are connected by the underwater railway Seikan Tunnel...
to Kyūshū
Kyushu
is the third largest island of Japan and most southwesterly of its four main islands. Its alternate ancient names include , , and . The historical regional name is referred to Kyushu and its surrounding islands....
.
Kim was appointed as the conductor of television program titled 'Here comes the orchestra' of Tokyo Broadcasting System
Tokyo Broadcasting System
, TBS Holdings, Inc. or TBSHD, is a stockholding company in Tokyo, Japan. It is a parent company of a television network named and radio network named ....
(TBS) with Kazushi Ono
Kazushi Ono
is a Japanese conductor, born in Tokyo. He studied at the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music, and with Wolfgang Sawallisch and Giuseppe Patanè at the Bavarian State Opera , as a scholar of the Japanese Ministry of Culture. In 1987 he won First Prize in the 3rd Toscanini International...
and Deryck Inoue in 1980. Following this year, he conducted other television program titled 'My Concert' of Nippon Television
Nippon Television
is a television network based in the Shiodome area of Minato, Tokyo, Japan and is controlled by the Yomiuri Shimbun publishing company. Broadcasting terrestrially across Japan, the network is commonly known as , contracted to , and abbreviated as "NTV" or "AX".-Offices:*The Headquarters : 6-1,...
(NTV). During these two years, he conducted numerous works from Bach
Bạch
Bạch is a Vietnamese surname. The name is transliterated as Bai in Chinese and Baek, in Korean.Bach is the anglicized variation of the surname Bạch.-Notable people with the surname Bạch:* Bạch Liêu...
to Shostakovich and accompanied many well-known soloists including Hiroko Nakamura
Hiroko Nakamura
is a Japanese pianist. She is the youngest, and the second Japanese prizewinner at the 7th International Frederick Chopin Piano Competition...
, Mitsuko Uchida
Mitsuko Uchida
, born 20 December 1948, is a Japanese naturalized British classical pianist.-Career:Born in Atami, a seaside town close to Tokyo, Japan, Uchida moved to Vienna, Austria, with her diplomat parents when she was twelve years old, after her father was named the Japanese ambassador to Austria...
, Toshia Eto, Ko Iwasaki, Jean-Yves Thibaudet
Jean-Yves Thibaudet
-Early life:Jean-Yves Thibaudet was born in Lyon, France, to non-professional musical parents. His father played the violin, and his mother, of German origin and a somewhat accomplished pianist herself, introduced the instrument to Jean-Yves....
and Mikhail Pletnev
Mikhail Pletnev
Mikhail Vasilievich Pletnev is a Russian pianist, conductor, and composer.-Life and career:Pletnev was born into a very musical family in Arkhangelsk, then part of the Soviet Union; his father played and taught the bayan, and his mother the piano...
with two regular orchestras-New Japan Philharmonic
New Japan Philharmonic
The is a symphony orchestra based in Tokyo, Japan. It was founded in 1972 with Seiji Ozawa as honorary conductor laureate. The Philharmonic's primary concert venue is the Sumida Triphony Hall. Since 2003, its music director is Christian Arming....
and Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra
Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra
The is a Japanese symphony orchestra administratively based in Tokyo. The orchestra primarily performs concerts in Tokyo at the Suntory Hall, but also gives concerts at the Tokyo Opera City Concert Hall...
-and other cities' orchestras.
In 1981, Kim became a principal guest conductor of Tokyo City Philharmonic Orchestra. His other important positions were principal guest conductor of Nagoya Philharmonic Orchestra
Nagoya Philharmonic Orchestra
The is a symphony orchestra based in Nagoya, Japan, founded in 1966. The orchestra gives concerts primarily at the Aichi Prefectural Arts Theater Concert Hall and the Chukyo University Center for Culture & Arts Aurora Hall.- History :...
since 1985 and principal guest conductor of Kyoto Symphony Orchestra since 1987. He toured with Kyoto Symphony Orchestra in Pyongyang
Pyongyang
Pyongyang is the capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, commonly known as North Korea, and the largest city in the country. Pyongyang is located on the Taedong River and, according to preliminary results from the 2008 population census, has a population of 3,255,388. The city was...
and Wonsan
Wonsan
Wŏnsan is a port city and naval base in southeastern North Korea. It is the capital of Kangwŏn Province. The population of the city is estimated to have been 331,000 in 2000. Notable people from Wŏnsan include Kim Ki Nam, diplomat and Secretary of the Workers' Party.- History :The original name of...
-first appearance of Japan's orchestra in North Korea-in 1987. He also appeared in Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
with China Broadcasting Symphony Orchestra (now China Philharmonic Orchestra
China Philharmonic Orchestra
The China Philharmonic Orchestra is an orchestra founded in Beijing, China on May 25, 2000, based on the previous "China Broadcasting Symphony Orchestra"...
) in 1988.
Meetings with Isang Yun
Kim met the composer Isang YunIsang Yun
Isang Yun was a Korean-German composer originally from Korea. According to his official publisher's Boosey & Hawkes biography of him, he was granted political asylum by West Germany, eventually becoming a naturalised German citizen, following his abduction and torture in 1967 by the South Korean...
in 1986 and became an admirer of his music. He conducted Yun's first work Exemplum, in memoriam Kwangju on stage of '1st Hankyore Concert' in April 1989. He resigned three orchestras' positions and went to Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
in September. He studied Yun's works with the composer himself.
In 1990, he participated in 'Pan-Nation Unification Concert' held in Pyongyang and conducted Yun's Fanfare und Memorial in presence of the composer. And in 1992, Kim appeared on '75th Birthday Celebration Festival of Isang Yun' held in Tokyo and conducted Yun's Third Symphony premiered in Japan. Kim conducted Over 10 pieces of Yun's works premiered in Japan and was highly praised by the composer.
Crossover, Hankyoreh Concert, and other appearances
Kim's activities were not only formal classical concerts but crossoverCrossover (music)
Crossover is a term applied to musical works or performers appearing on two or more of the record charts which track differing musical tastes, or genres...
and concerts of Korean residents in Japan including Hankyoreh Concert (1989–1993). He introduced many North and South Korean songs and orchestral works, including those produced by his maternal uncle Cheol-Woo Lee. The 8th Hankyore Concert held in Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, United States, located at 881 Seventh Avenue, occupying the east stretch of Seventh Avenue between West 56th Street and West 57th Street, two blocks south of Central Park....
of New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
in September 1992 , which was also Kim's début concert in the US.
He also met Joe Hisaishi
Joe Hisaishi
, known professionally as , is a composer and director known for over 100 film scores and solo albums dating back to 1981.While possessing a stylistically distinct sound, Hisaishi's music has been known to explore and incorporate different genres, including minimalist, experimental electronic,...
, a well-known composer of Hayao Miyazaki
Hayao Miyazaki
is a Japanese manga artist and prominent film director and animator of many popular anime feature films. Through a career that has spanned nearly fifty years, Miyazaki has attained international acclaim as a maker of animated feature films and, along with Isao Takahata, co-founded Studio Ghibli,...
and Takeshi Kitano
Takeshi Kitano
is a Japanese filmmaker, comedian, singer, actor, film editor, presenter, screenwriter, author, poet, painter, and one-time video game designer who has received critical acclaim, both in his native Japan and abroad, for his highly idiosyncratic cinematic work. The famed Japanese film critic...
's film music, with whom he appeared in many concerts together since 1991. Kim also conducted crossover concerts with Jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
musicians including Aiko Takahashi and Terumasa Hino
Terumasa Hino
is a Japanese jazz trumpeter. Currently based in New York, Hino is widely acknowledged as one of Japan's finest jazz musicians. His instruments include the trumpet, cornet and flügelhorn.-Biography:...
. And he conducted many concert bands in Japan, including Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra
Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra
The is a professional concert band that has long been regarded as one of the world's finest, perhaps rivaled only in recent years by the Dallas Wind Symphony ....
and
Osaka Municipal Symphonic Band, of which he was a principal conductor from 1991 to 1994.
In 1998, he conducted opening ceremony of 7th Winter Paralympic Games
Paralympic Games
The Paralympic Games are a major international multi-sport event where athletes with a physical disability compete; this includes athletes with mobility disabilities, amputations, blindness, and Cerebral Palsy. There are Winter and Summer Paralympic Games, which are held immediately following their...
held in Nagano(produced by Hisaishi). Following this appearance, he received music prize named after Akeo Watanabe
Akeo Watanabe
Akeo Watanabe was a Japanese symphonic conductor, known for his recordings of the works of Jan Sibelius.Watanabe was born in 1919 to a Japanese father and a Finnish mother. He studied music and conducted at the Tokyo Academy of Music in Japan and the Juilliard School of Music in New York City,...
and became the only one that won two grand prizes for Japanese conductor at that time.
First appearance in South Korea
Kim and South KoreaSouth Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
n violinist Jeong Chan-Woo held a concert named 'Unity Concert' in June 2000. This concert was previously planned in 1985, but South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (South Korea)
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade is in charge of diplomacy for South Korea, as well as handling external trade and matters related to overseas Korean nationals. It was established on 17 July 1948. Until 1998, the ministry was known as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; its jurisdiction over...
did not approve of Jeong's departure to Japan due to his North Korean nationality. Thus this concert was a famous event not only to Korean residents in Japan but also in South Korea. In October 2000, he visited South Korea for the first time for ASEM
Asia-Europe Meeting
The Asia–Europe Meeting was officially established in 1996 at the first summit in Bangkok. ASEM is an interregional forum which consists of the European Commission, the twenty-seven members of the European Union , the thirteen members of the ASEAN Plus Three regional grouping,, as of 2008, India,...
Music Festival held in Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
where he conducted Isang Yun's Muak and Asian premiere of Ferruccio Busoni
Ferruccio Busoni
Ferruccio Busoni was an Italian composer, pianist, editor, writer, piano and composition teacher, and conductor.-Biography:...
's Piano Concerto played by the well-known pianist Baek Geon-Woo (Kun-Woo Paik) and KBS Symphony Orchestra
KBS Symphony Orchestra
The KBS Symphony Orchestra is one of the most famous symphony orchestras in South Korea. It was founded in 1956 as the radio orchestra of the Korean Broadcasting System ....
.
At that time Kim still held North Korean nationality
Nationality Law of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea
The nationality law of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea governs who is a citizen of the DPRK, and how one may gain or lose such citizenship.-History:Up until 1963, the DPRK had no formal nationality law...
. He switched to South Korean nationality
South Korean nationality law
South Korean nationality law defines who is a South Korean citizen, as well as the procedures by which one may be naturalized into South Korean citizenship or renounce it.-Basic definition:South Korean nationality can be acquired in a number of ways:...
in August 2005.
By this time, Kim conducted nearly all orchestras of Japan except 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...
. He conducts not only professional but orchestras of university, citizens and other amateur orchestras and concert bands. And he appeared several concerts of KBS Symphony Orchestra, Korean Symphony Orchestra and National Orchestra of Korea in South Korea.
Since November 2007, Kim was appointed to his very first position in South Korea as a principal conductor of the Ulsan Symphony Orchestra.