Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra 917 Orchard Regular Concert

Kenichiro Kobayashi

Ken-Ichiro Kobayashi is a Japanese conductor and composer. Born in Iwaki, Fukushima, Kobayashi's father was a high school music teacher, and mother was a primary school teacher. Kobayashi started composing music at the age of 11, studied composition and conducting under Mareo Ishiketa (composition), Kazuo Yamada (conducting), and Akeo Watanabe (conducting) at Tokyo University of the Arts.

Kobayashi won the 1st prize and the special award at the International Conductors Competition on Hungarian television in 1974. He has led orchestras in Germany, Austria, Britain, and Netherlands. Kobayashi has been resident conductor of the Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra and Kyoto Symphony Orchestra. Kobayashi was appointed to the principal conductor of Japan Philharmonic Orchestra (1988–90), chief conductor (1990–94, 1997–2004), music director (2004–07) and conductor laureate since 2010.

Kobayashi served the principal guest conductor of the Kansai and Kyushu orchestras. He was general music director of Nagoya Philharmonic Orchestra from 1998 to 2001, music director from 2001 to 2003, is now appointed to the conductor laureate since 2003. Kobayashi was appointed to the special guest conductor of Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra in August 2011, appointed to the music director of Tokyo Bunka Kaikan in June 2012.

In Europe, Kobayashi served the principal conductor of Hungarian State Symphony (now Hungarian National Philharmonic) from 1987-97, and is now conductor laureate of the orchestra. Kobayashi was the first Asian conductor who had conducted Czech Philharmonic at the Prague Spring International Music Festival in 2002. He has held the regular guest conductorship with Czech Philharmonic. He was one of three conductors who primarily led the orchestra after the resignation of Gerd Albrecht from the chief conductorship orchestra in 1996 and before advent of Vladimir Ashkenazy in 1998.

In 2006, he became vaste dirigent ('permanent conductor') of Het Gelders Orkest of Arnhem, Netherlands. He is a former music professor of Tokyo University of the Arts(now holds the emeritus professorship), the emeritus professor of Tokyo College of Music and Franz Liszt Academy of Music.

Schedule & Ticket

Place information

• Tokyo Opera City Concert Hall
  東京オペラシティ コンサートホール：タケミツ メモリアル

  Address

  日本、〒163-1403 東京都新宿区西新宿３丁目２０−２  Map

• Suntory Hall
  サントリーホール

  Address

  日本、〒107-0052 東京都港区赤坂１丁目１３−１  Map

• Cultural village
  Bunkamura

  Address

  日本、〒150-8507 東京都渋谷区道玄坂２丁目２４−１  Map

• Bunkyo Civic Hall
  文京シビックホール

  Address

  日本、〒112-0003 東京都文京区春日１丁目１６−２１ 文京シビックセンター 2F  Map

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