Japan Philharmonic Orchestra 708th Tokyo 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

• 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

• Kanagawa Prefectural Hall
  神奈川県民ホール

  Address

  日本、〒231-0023 神奈川県横浜市中区山下町３−１  Map

• Tokyo Art Theater
  東京芸術劇場

  Address

  日本、〒171-0021 東京都豊島区西池袋１丁目８−１  Map

• Yokohama Minato Mirai Hall
  横浜みなとみらいホール

  Address

  日本、〒220-0012 神奈川県横浜市 西区みなとみらい２丁目３−６  Map

• Sagami Women's University Green Hall (Sagamihara City Cultural Center)
  相模女子大学グリーンホール(相模原市文化会館)

  Address

  日本、〒228-0803 神奈川県相模原市南区相模大野４丁目４−１  Map

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