Yoshikazu Fukumura
Encyclopedia
Yoshikazu Fukumura （福村芳一 Fukumura Yoshikazu, born in 1946） is a Japanese conductor, formerly Music Director of the Tokyo City Ballet Company,
Kyoto Municipal Symphony, Nagoya Philharmonic and Sendai Philharmonic Orchestras.
Nightingale, Oedipus Rex by I. Stravinsky and other contemporary operas. Additionally, he also conducted youth concerts, pops concerts and guest-conducted the Japan philharmonic and several other Japanese Orchestras in public performances .
Fukumura’s formal debut as a professional conductor in 1968 in the 118th subscription concert of the Kyoto Municipal Symphony Orchestra was a sensational success and won him instant recognition .
In 1970 he achieved national wide recognition in Japan as the regular conductor of the NHK
TV Concert Series “Music of the World” .
In 1972 Fukumura was appointed Music Director of the Kyoto Municipal Symphony Orchestra and later Music Director of the Nagoya Philharmonic Orchestra
.
and composing under Maestro Jacobo Napoli.
At the famous Santa Cecilia Academy of Music in Rome from 1974 to 1976 .
He was subsequently engaged to conduct the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
, the Bournemouth Sinfonietta
, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
, BBC Symphony Orchestra
in London .
. Highlights of this involvement are a yearly series of enormously successful fund raising concerts, which attracted audiences of over 30,000 to each program .
In October 1987 he was engaged as the principal guest conductor to the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra
which is the oldest Symphony Orchestra in Asia .
During his 1987-90 visit to Shanghai, he made various TV recordings and conducted more than thirty concerts and 2nd Beijing International Arts Festival, all leading up to a successful debut tour of Japan .
In 1995 he was granted the award from the government of Cuba "LA CONDECORACION POR LA CULTURA NACIONAL" . In 1998 , he also granted the award from the government of Vietnam ; he has contributed to both the National Symphony Orchestra of Cuba and Vietnam .
And in November the same year he formed Pan Asian Philharmonic Orchestra consisting of 90 musicians selected from countries across Asia, and held a long-awaited concert sponsored by Sony-Thai Corporation.
Since 1993 he has been the Music Director of the National Hồ Chí Minh City The Conservatory of Music Orchestra in Vietnam, and since 1995 he has been the Honorary Principal Guest Conductor of the Cuba National Symphony Orchestra.
In 2010 he was appointed as the first chief conductor of ASEAN Symphony Orchestra at the "17th ASEAN Summit in Hanoi" over the three days in the end of October 2010, supported by The Nippon Foundation. This orchestra consists of more than 80 musicians specially selected from ten member countries of ASEAN. The orchestra gave the first classical concerts in Vietnam including Hanoi commemorating the summit and had a big success in his three concerts total.
During the past twenty years , while continuing guest appearances with most major Japanese Orchestras , Fukumura has made recordings and conducted festivals and subscription concerts with the Hong Kong Philharmonic, Beijing Central Philharmonic, Shanghai Symphony, Singapore Symphony, Korea KBS Symphony, Seoul Philharmonic, Taiwan National Symphony, Philippine Philharmonic, Vietnam National Symphony, Bangkok Symphony, Pan Asian Philharmonic in Bangkok, Calcutta Foundation Orchestra in India , Delhi Symphony Orchestra .
Venezuela National Symphony, Simon Bolivar Symphony, Buenos Aires Philharmonic, Argentina National Symphony, São Paulo Municipal Symphony in Brazil, Rio de Janeiro Philharmonic, Chile National Symphony, Mexico Philharmonic, Las Americas Orchestra in Mexico, Costa Rica National Symphony, Bogota Philharmonic, Colombia National Symphony, Cuba National Symphony, Cuba Chamber Music Ensemble Solistas de la Habana, Puerto Rico Symphony, Panama National Symphony, Guatemala National Symphony, Peru National Symphony, Lima Teatro Municipal Orchestra, Ecuador National Symphony, Uruguay National S.O.D.R.E Symphony, Montevideo Philharmonic, Asuncion Municipal Symphony in Paraguay, Honduras National Symphony,
Royal Philharmonic in London, BBC Symphony, Bournemouth Symphony, Santa Cecilia Orchestra in Rome, RAI Symphony in Rome, Sicilian Symphony, Spanish National Symphony ..... etc.
Kyoto Municipal Symphony, Nagoya Philharmonic and Sendai Philharmonic Orchestras.
In Japan
He entered the Toho Music School in 1962 to study composition, Piano, Trombone and Conducting . While still a student , he served as Assistant Conductor of the Fujiwara Opera Company in Tokyo , and conducted performances of Carmen, Madam Butterfly, Don Pasquale, Il Nozze di Figaro, Il Volo di Notte by L. Dallapiccola ,Nightingale, Oedipus Rex by I. Stravinsky and other contemporary operas. Additionally, he also conducted youth concerts, pops concerts and guest-conducted the Japan philharmonic and several other Japanese Orchestras in public performances .
Fukumura’s formal debut as a professional conductor in 1968 in the 118th subscription concert of the Kyoto Municipal Symphony Orchestra was a sensational success and won him instant recognition .
In 1970 he achieved national wide recognition in Japan as the regular conductor of the NHK
NHK
NHK is Japan's national public broadcasting organization. NHK, which has always identified itself to its audiences by the English pronunciation of its initials, is a publicly owned corporation funded by viewers' payments of a television license fee....
TV Concert Series “Music of the World” .
In 1972 Fukumura was appointed Music Director of the Kyoto Municipal Symphony Orchestra and later Music Director of the 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 :...
.
In Italy
He managed to further his musical education by commuting between Japan and Italy to study conducting under Maestro Franco FerraraFranco Ferrara
Franco Ferrara was an Italian conductor.After obtaining diplomas in piano, violin, organ and musical composition at the Conservatory of Bologna, Ferrara began his career as violin player in Bologna, in Rome and in Florence, with the Orchestra of Maggio Musicale Fiorentino...
and composing under Maestro Jacobo Napoli.
At the famous Santa Cecilia Academy of Music in Rome from 1974 to 1976 .
In England
Fukumura was runner-up in the 1976 John Player International Conductor Competition in England and was awarded a special prize for his impression on the judges described by the Daily Telegraph critique, which wrote of an audience leaving the Concert Hall convinced that the Japanese conductor had won the competition .He was subsequently engaged to conduct the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
The Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra is an English orchestra. Originally based in Bournemouth, the BSO moved its offices to the adjacent town of Poole in 1979....
, the Bournemouth Sinfonietta
Bournemouth Sinfonietta
The Bournemouth Sinfonietta was a chamber orchestra founded in 1968 as an off-shoot of the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra.-Formation:The orchestra was initially conducted by George Hurst, who acted as artistic adviser, and Nicholas Braithwaite, in order to perform the classical repertoire in the...
, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra is a British orchestra based in London. It tours widely, and is sometimes referred to as "Britain's national orchestra"...
, BBC Symphony Orchestra
BBC Symphony Orchestra
The BBC Symphony Orchestra is the principal broadcast orchestra of the British Broadcasting Corporation and one of the leading orchestras in Britain.-History:...
in London .
In China
Since 1983 he has regularly conducted the Hong Kong Philharmonic OrchestraHong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra
The Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra , is the largest symphony orchestra in Hong Kong. First established in 1895 as an amateur orchestra, under the name Sino-British Orchestra, it was renamed the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra in 1957, and became a professional orchestra in 1974 under the funding...
. Highlights of this involvement are a yearly series of enormously successful fund raising concerts, which attracted audiences of over 30,000 to each program .
In October 1987 he was engaged as the principal guest conductor to the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra
Shanghai Symphony Orchestra
Shanghai Symphony Orchestra is an influential orchestra in China. The music director is Long Yu.It was founded in 1879 as Shanghai Public Band, one of the earliest orchestras in Eastern Asia. It was renamed to Shanghai Municipal Council Symphony Orchestra in 1922. Starting in 1919, an Italian...
which is the oldest Symphony Orchestra in Asia .
During his 1987-90 visit to Shanghai, he made various TV recordings and conducted more than thirty concerts and 2nd Beijing International Arts Festival, all leading up to a successful debut tour of Japan .
In Latin America
Since 1989, he has conducted many Latin American Orchestras, Brazil, Venezuela, Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, Cuba , Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, Panama, Puerto Rico, Honduras, Paraguay and Uruguay .In 1995 he was granted the award from the government of Cuba "LA CONDECORACION POR LA CULTURA NACIONAL" . In 1998 , he also granted the award from the government of Vietnam ; he has contributed to both the National Symphony Orchestra of Cuba and Vietnam .
Recent years
In September 2000 he made a successful tour in China including Shanghai and Beijing with Vietnam National Symphony.And in November the same year he formed Pan Asian Philharmonic Orchestra consisting of 90 musicians selected from countries across Asia, and held a long-awaited concert sponsored by Sony-Thai Corporation.
Since 1993 he has been the Music Director of the National Hồ Chí Minh City The Conservatory of Music Orchestra in Vietnam, and since 1995 he has been the Honorary Principal Guest Conductor of the Cuba National Symphony Orchestra.
In 2010 he was appointed as the first chief conductor of ASEAN Symphony Orchestra at the "17th ASEAN Summit in Hanoi" over the three days in the end of October 2010, supported by The Nippon Foundation. This orchestra consists of more than 80 musicians specially selected from ten member countries of ASEAN. The orchestra gave the first classical concerts in Vietnam including Hanoi commemorating the summit and had a big success in his three concerts total.
Orchestras
Fukumura has conducted the Japan Philharmonic, New Japan Philharmonic, Tokyo Symphony, Tokyo Philharmonic, Yomiuri Japan Symphony, Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony, Osaka Philharmonic, Gunma Symphony, Sapporo Symphony, Kyushu Symphony, Orchestras and enjoys a growing prestige abroad .During the past twenty years , while continuing guest appearances with most major Japanese Orchestras , Fukumura has made recordings and conducted festivals and subscription concerts with the Hong Kong Philharmonic, Beijing Central Philharmonic, Shanghai Symphony, Singapore Symphony, Korea KBS Symphony, Seoul Philharmonic, Taiwan National Symphony, Philippine Philharmonic, Vietnam National Symphony, Bangkok Symphony, Pan Asian Philharmonic in Bangkok, Calcutta Foundation Orchestra in India , Delhi Symphony Orchestra .
Venezuela National Symphony, Simon Bolivar Symphony, Buenos Aires Philharmonic, Argentina National Symphony, São Paulo Municipal Symphony in Brazil, Rio de Janeiro Philharmonic, Chile National Symphony, Mexico Philharmonic, Las Americas Orchestra in Mexico, Costa Rica National Symphony, Bogota Philharmonic, Colombia National Symphony, Cuba National Symphony, Cuba Chamber Music Ensemble Solistas de la Habana, Puerto Rico Symphony, Panama National Symphony, Guatemala National Symphony, Peru National Symphony, Lima Teatro Municipal Orchestra, Ecuador National Symphony, Uruguay National S.O.D.R.E Symphony, Montevideo Philharmonic, Asuncion Municipal Symphony in Paraguay, Honduras National Symphony,
Royal Philharmonic in London, BBC Symphony, Bournemouth Symphony, Santa Cecilia Orchestra in Rome, RAI Symphony in Rome, Sicilian Symphony, Spanish National Symphony ..... etc.