Academy

Message (as an Academy member) to PMF supporters

What are you looking forward to about PMF?

I am looking forward to playing with musicians from many different countries while exploring Japanese culture and this wonderful part of the world I've always wanted to visit.

Please type a short message to music fans and those who support PMF in Sapporo and throughout Japan.

I am very excited for this summer and can't wait to meet everyone. I'm really grateful for this opportunity. Thank you! :)

【After PMF 2023】What are some impressions of your time in Sapporo?

I wanted to visit Japan and experience Japanese culture for a very long time and I am really grateful for the opportunity I had this summer. Coming from a much smaller city in Serbia, I was fascinated with everything. Sapporo is very beautiful city and every corner of it is amazing. I couldn't walk outside without taking photos all the time. First night I spent 30 minutes trying to figure out what all of the buttons do on the toilet. I thought I wouldn't like much Japanese food, but I was extremely wrong. It's amazing and in Sapporo I had some of the best meals ever (even though most of the time I didn't even know what was I eating). I made some of the best memories while getting lost in the giant buildings of Susukino, visiting Hokkaido Jingu and doing omikuji for the first time. Every time when I was going back from rehearsal from Kitara, while going through the Nakajima Park I somehow ended up a discovering different and even more beautiful path. I really enjoyed playing Mozart string quartet in Clock Tower and listening to all of the PMF Faculty concerts in Kitara. People are very friendly and I felt welcome wherever I went. I will always remember playing Strauss's "The Blue Danube" with all the children from Sapporo durning the Link up concert because Danube is the river I grew up next to in my city. I'm definitely looking forward to come back to Sapporo someday and I can't imagine how beautiful it must be durning the winter.

【After PMF 2023】What did you take away from your time at PMF?

This summer I have experienced so many new things. I tried food I didn't even know existed, I tried wearing japanese kimono, writing calligraphy, doing traditional tea ceremony, I went to the onsen for the first time (it was super good, but super hot), I even saw kawaii penguins for the fist time. I made many friends from all around the world and I can't wait to see them again. We made so many memories together like climbing the Moiwa mountain, going to the beach, trying to find open ramen restauran in the middle of the night, singing at the karaoke, canoeing the river, feeling spirit of the summer festival while trying to not get lost in the crowd... I will never forget watching fireworks with friends I met a few weeks ago but I felt like I had known them all my life. I learned so many things about chamber and orchestral music from amazing faculty and conductors. I realized how truly beautiful music and playing with friends can be. ❤

【After PMF 2023】What advice would you give to people thinking of auditioning for PMF?

My advice is go for it. PMF is really incredible festival. It's opportunity to learn from amazing artists and faculty from Europe and the US. It's the best way to experience Japan while making music with people from all around the world.