2019OICMA closed its curtain at Tokyo performance on July 31st at Kioi Hall. Tutor of the academy Seiji Ozawa stood on the podium at the end of the concert and conducted Beethoven: String Quartet No.16 Op.135 3rd movement.

https://www.facebook.com/SeijiOzawa.InternationalAcademyOkushiga.Asia/videos/2185140054928893/

This music was loved by one of the great tutors at the academy, late Mr. Robert Mann, and he conducted this piece many times. Seiji Ozawa himself also loves this work and he said to the academy students at the rehearsal “such a wonderful music”.

Beethoven: String Quartet No.16 will be performed by Seiji Ozawa International Academy Switzerland at the Seiji Ozawa Matsumoto Festival “Chamber Concert I” this summer.

The last performance of 2019 Ozawa International Academy Okushiga ended last night at Kioi Hall in Tokyo.
6 quartets each tried to get a harmony that only they can make after the 10 days rehearsals in Okushiga with trusted musicians.
After quartets, 24 academy students and 3 tutors got on stage together, and performed Mendelssohn: String Octet. Their performance brought the hall full of fresh air and clear blue sky from Okushiga.
At the end of the concert, Seiji Ozawa showed up on the stage and stood on the podium. He conducted Beethoven: String Quartet No.16 with extreme focus. The audience and the musicians couldn’t take their eyes off from the conductor, hoping not to miss any moment of “music” which was poring out from his body.
We thank all of you for coming to the concert.

The academy is going to close its 2019 program tomorrow at the Tokyo performance. Tickets on the day is available for purchase at the Kioi Hall from 6PM on July 31st.

Program:

●Haydn: String Quartet No. 60, Op.76, No.1, Hob.III: 75
　Ⅰ. Allegro con spirito IV. Finale: Allegro ma non troppo
Violin: Mai Kinomura（I 1st), Kiki Shibayama（IV 1st）
Viola: Momoka Okada Cello: Keina Satoh

●Schumann: String Quartet No.3 in A major, Op. 41, No. 3
　Ⅰ. Andante espressivo – Allegro molto moderato III. Adagio molto
Violin: Ribon Aida (I 1st), Asako Iimori (III 1st)
Viola: Jungmin Lim Cello: Misaki Kurokawa

●Beethoven: String Quartet No.10 in E-flat major, Op. 74 “Harp”
　I. Poco Adagio – Allegro
Violin: Taiga Tojo, Aoi Saito
Viola: RachelYui Mikuni Cello: Jiaqi Liu

●Debussy: String Qurtet in G minor, Op. 10
　I. Animé et très décidé Ⅲ. Andantino, doucement expressif
Violin: Yoko Ishikura (I 1st), Ayin Sohn (III 1st)
Viola: Mingyue Yu Cello: Mahiro Kurokawa

●Mendelssohn: String Quartet No. 2 in A minor, Op. 13
　I. Adagio – Allegro vivace
Violin: Hua Zhang, Sayaka Kagei
Viola: Seong-Woo Jeong Cello: Pi-Wei Lin

●Brahms: String Quartet No.2 in A minor, Op. 51, No. 2
　I. Allegro non troppo
Violin: Karen Kido, Shunichiro Fukuda
Viola: Maiko Takimoto Cello: Yusuke Yabe

【Stings Orchestra】
●Mendelssohn: String Octet in E-flat major, Op. 20
I. Allegro moderato ma con fuoco

Concerts

One of the big stages for 2019OICMA students, Okushiga performance, ended with more than 300 audience at The Music Hall in Okushiga, Nagano pref today.
24 students made total 6 quartet groups, and they each tackled about 10 min long music piece for 7 days.
Some groups struggled trying to find their answers to their harmony, some groups discussed til very late what they want to do with the piece, some groups made life-time friends through this experience.
All team made a great performance in front of full-house audience and they all got off the stage with big smiles on their faces.
At the end of the performance, 24 students and 2 teachers got on the stage together and performed bright Mendelssohn strings octet.
One of our teachers Mr. Sadao Harada says “young people make a great growth during the final couple of days”.
It is exciting for us to see their final performance on July 31st in Tokyo. We are looking forward to seeing you there, tickets are available for purchase.

Concerts

Aspiring 24 academy students will have Okushiga performance at the Music Hall tomorrow. We wonder what they received and thought after one week long intense lessons and practice. Today, at the general probe, one teacher said “you guys studied hard and well. Now it’s time for you to enjoy the music on the stage”.
The tickets for tomorrow performance are still available for purchase. Please come to listen to their wonderful harmony.

Concerts

Finally sun came to see its face today after days of rain in Okushiga. The academy students started strings orchestra rehearsal as well as individual performances where they can listen to other quartets. It is one of the important elements at the academy that they can improve by learning from others. Beautiful nature silently and kindly cheers the young musicians.

Ozawa International Chamber Music Academy Okushiga has begun its rehearsal from July 20th. In total 24 academy students are polishing their skills and expressiveness under passionate teachers.
The practice starts from 9AM to 9PM. The base for the academy students is always filled with music. 6 group of quartets each perform a movement, which only 8 – 10 min long. However, one of the students say “we don’t have much time” during nearly 10 days camp. They search for their harmony in beautiful Okushiga nature.