BIWAKO HALL VOCAL ENSEMBLE

Japan’s first group of vocalists dedicated to public halls.

Japan’s first group of vocalists exclusively for public halls, consisting of vocalists selected through rigorous auditions from all over the country. In addition to his high level of ability as a soloist, he is attracting attention from all sides as an excellent vocal ensemble that can be the core of ensembles and choruses.
Since it was established in March 1998, the year the Biwako Hall was opened as the core of Biwako Hall’s unique creative activities, its main activity has been to perform independently, and in addition to performing opera performances and regular performances, it has been nationwide upon request. Many performances are held in various places. We are also actively engaged in music promotion activities, such as holding performances for schools in Shiga Prefecture. A total of more than 70 members have been enrolled in the past, and after the end of the activity period, he has been widely active as a “solo registered member”, appearing in numerous concerts and operas.
Received the 26th Otsu City Cultural Award in 2013 and the 42nd Shiga Prefecture Cultural Award in 2017.

GREETING

The Biwako Hall Vocal Ensemble is a group of singers based at Biwako Hall. Its members are busy every day, whether it be collaborating with some of Japan’s very best, internationally active staff, rehearsals or performances with professional orchestras. Their everyday lives provide them a great variety of stage experiences.
The word “classic” refers to both first-rate works and works that have survived throughout the years because of their quality, and classical music actually includes a wide variety of traditions. The world’s “standards” that carry on these traditions are the foundations that all international singers must master. The members of the Biwako Hall Vocal Ensemble work together so that as many of them as possible can master these world standards and be prepared for the international stage.
We sincerely hope you will support their work.

Artistic Director of Biwako Hall Ban Tetsuro

MEMBER

  • Supervision

    BAN TETSURO

    Career
    Currently the Yamagata Symphony Orchestra’s Principal Conductor and the Biwako Hall’s Artistic Director, Tetsuro Ban was trained as a composer by Ryohei Hirose and others at the Kyoto City University of Arts. After graduation, he left for Europe to study conducting under Karl Österreicher, Yuji Yuasa and others at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna. While at school, Ban was appointed to be the Permanent Conductor at the Theater Biel. He has since held the posts of the First Permanent Conductor at the Theater Brandenburg, Permanent Conductor at the Komische Oper Berlin, General Music Director at the Theater Eisenach and the Theater Regensburg. Successfully active across Europe, Ban has guest conducted for around forty orchestras and opera houses including the Sophia National Opera, Vienna Volksoper, Graz Opera, Theater Basel and Stuttgart State Opera. Inside his country, he has collaborated with major Japanese orchestras and opera companies such as the NHK Symphony Orchestra, New National Theatre and Tokyo Nikikai.

    Ban has also dedicated himself to education as the Professor of Conducting at the Kyoto City University of Arts. He has taught as a Special Visiting Professor at Tokyo University of the Arts and Kunitachi College of Music, while giving open lectures at Yamagata University.

    The first prize winner of the 44th Besançon International Competition for Conductors, Ban received both the Encouragement Award (1996) and the Distinguished Service Award (2020) at the Kyoto Prefecture Cultural Contribution Award, the ABC Asahi Broadcasting Corporation International Music Award (1997), the Kyoto City New Artist Award (2000), the Hotel Okura Music Award (2000), the Akio Watanabe Music Foundation Music Award (2004) and the Kenichiro Todo Music Award (2006).
  • Honorary Conductor

    TANAKA NOBUAKI

    Permanent Conductor of the Tokyo Philharmonic Chorus
    Composer
    Career
    In 1956, upon graduating from the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music, he founded the Tokyo Philharmonic Chorus with a group of volunteer vocalists and became its permanent conductor. He was awarded the Mainichi Art Award in 1986, the Asahi Modern Music Award in 2006, the ExxonMobil Music Award in 2010, and the Order of the Sacred Treasure in 2000.
  • Conductor Laureate

    MOTOYAMA HIDEKI

    Career
    Graduated from Kyoto City University of Arts. After returning to Japan, he has been active in performing religious music, mainly Bach. He studied conducting under Helmut Rilling, Wolfgang Schäfer, and Uwe Gronostaj, and received the 15th Todo Music Prize in 1995 and the Kyoto City Art Newcomer Prize in 2001. He is a professor at Osaka College of Music. He is a President of the Osaka College of Music and the leader of the Kyoto Bach Choir.
  • Conductor

    OKAWA SHUJI

    Career
    He graduated from Kunitachi College of Music. He has worked as an assistant conductor and chorus conductor of operas mainly at Biwako Hall, Tokyo Nikikai, New National Theatre, Hyogo Performing Arts Center, Nissay Theatre, Aichi Performing Arts Center and others. He has been involved in a wide range of activities, including conducting the Shiki Theater Company’s production of “The Lion King” from 1999 to 2011. He studied conducting under Takashina Masamitsu, piano under Yashiro Yasuko, and voice under Oishi Masaharu.
  • Soprano

    KOBAYASHI YUKA

    Alma Mater
    Kunitachi C ollege o f Music Department of Performance & Composition Vocal department.
    Nikikai Opera Institute the 65th Master Class.
    Tokyo Opera Club the vocal Master Class.
    Awards
    Awarded the 39th Itabashi Classical Music Audition
    Studied under
    Konda Akihiro
    Ohta Naoki
    Kano Etsuko
    Kotetsu Kazuhiro
  • Soprano

    SASAKI MAI

    Alma Mater
    Kyoto City University of Arts-Faculty of Music (vocal department) .
    Graduated valedictorian, and was awarded the Kyoto City Mayor Award upon graduation.
    Completed the Master’s program in vocal music at said university.
    Awards
    Second place at the 74th and 75th Student Music Concours of Japan-Osaka division, and progressed to the national stage.
    Winner of the Aohiyoshi Music Competition (professional division), along with the Nara Prefectural Governor Award and the Hannah Award.
    Studied under
    Ohashi Jun
    Kohama Taemi
  • Soprano

    TAKADA MIZUKI

    Alma Mater
    Kyoto City University of Arts-Faculty of Music (vocal department).
    Completed the master’s program in vocal music at said university.
    Awards
    Recipient of the Shinseikai Award, the Kyoto Music Society Award, and the Sasaki Sadako Award.
    Second place at the 76th Student Music Concours of Japan-Osaka division, and progressed to the national stage.
    Studied under
    Shinobe Npbuhiro
    Matsubara Tomo
    Shimizu Tetsutaro
  • Soprano

    YAMAGISHI YURI

    Alma Mater
    Tokyo University of the Arts-Faculty of Music (vocal department).
    Completed the Master’s program in vocal performance at said university.
    Awards
    Winner of the 71st Student Music Concours of Japan-Nagoya division.
    Placed third at the national stage, and was awarded the Yokohama Citizen’s Prize-Audience Award.
    Studied under
    Sakai Izumi
    Kawakami Hiroshi
    Fujiki Daichi
    Hamada Rie
  • Alto

    IWAISHI CHIKAKO

    Alma Mater
    Tokyo University of the Arts Faculty of Music (vocal department).
    Completed the Master’s program in vocal performance at said university.
    Awards
    Third place at the 68th Student Music Concours of Japan.
    Winner of the 16th Japan Player’s Competition.
    Studied under
    Inaba Akiko
    Minawa Midori
    Teshima Masako
  • Alto

    TOKUDA ASAHI

    Alma Mater
    Tokyo University of the ArtsFaculty of Music (vocal department).
    Completed the Master’s program in vocal performance at said university, specializing in opera.
    Awards
    Awarded the Doseikai Award and the Sasaki Noriko Award upon graduation.
  • Alto

    YAMAUCHI YUKA

    Alma Mater
    Nagoya University of the Arts-Department of Musical Performance (vocal course).
    Completed the Master’s program in in vocal music at said university, and was presented the Principal’s Award upon graduation.
    Awards
    Awarded the Judges’ Award for her performance at the 82nd TIAA All Japan Classic Music Concert.
    Third place at the 12th Gifu Prefecture International Music Festival (vocal category), and recipient of the Gifu Prefectural Governor Award. Second place at the 25th Choukou Cup International Music Competition (vocal category).
    Winner of the 28th Kobe International Music Competition (vocal category) and recipient of the Hyogo Superintendent of Education Award.
    Studied under
    Kondo Keiko
    Nakai Ryoici
    Oshita Kumiko
    Miwa Yoko
  • Tenor

    ARIGAYA TOMOKI

    Alma Mater
    Tokyo University of the Arts-Faculty of Music (vocal department).
    Completed the Master’s program in vocal performance at said university, specializing in opera.
    Awards
    Winner at the 35th Ichikawa City newcomer concour
    Studied under
    Ikeda Takamune
    Ichihara Taro
    Fukui Kei
    Shimizu Tetsutaro
  • Tenor

    ARIMOTO YASUTO

    Alma Mater
    Showa University of Music-Popular Vocal course.
    Student of the 37th Class of the Opera Singer Training Division of the Japan Opera Foundation.
    Studied under
    Nakamura Yasushi
    Mochiki Hiroshi
  • Tenor

    OKUMOTO TOKIYA

    Alma Mater
    Kyoto City University of Arts-Faculty of Music (vocal department).
    Graduated valedictorian. Completed the Master’s program in vocal music at said university. Awarded the Kyoto City Mayor Award upon graduation.
    Studied under
    Noda Masaaki
    Kitamura Toshinori
    Matsubara Tomo
    Shimizu Tetsuraro
  • Tenor

    FUKUNISHI JIN

    Alma Mater
    Completed the Bachelor’s and Master’s programs at the Osaka College of Music.
    Awards
    Third place at the 17th Osaka International Music Competition.
  • Bass

    OHNO KOHSEI

    Alma Mater
    Tokyo University of the Arts-Faculty of Music (vocal department).
    Completed the Master’s program at said university, specializing in opera.
    Awards
    Recipient of the Atake Award.
    Studied under
    Ota Naoki
    Sakurada Makoto
    Hagiwara Jun
    Adrian Eröd
  • Bass

    TAIRA YOSHIFUMI

    Alma Mater
    Competed the Bachelor’s and Master’s programs at the Osaka University of Arts.
    Awards
    Winner of the 70th Student Music Concours of Japan-Osaka division.
    Qualified for the 38th Iizuka Newcomer Music Competition.
    Studied Under
    Mihara Tsuyoshi
  • Bass

    NISHIDA KOHEI

    Alma Mater
    Tokyo University of the Arts-Faculty of Music (vocal department).
    Completed the Master’s program at said university, specializing in opera.
    Awards
    Winner of the 67th Student Music Concours of Japan-national stage (high school division).

    Performed the national anthem solo at the opening ceremony of the 86th National High School Baseball Tournament.
    Studied under
    Sueyoshi Toshiyuki
    Katsube Futoru
    Kai Eijiro

PERFORMANCES

BIWAKO HALL VOCAL ENSEMBLE

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