| PMF News - Spring 2023 |
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After a long winter season with lots of snow, Spring is in the air here in the north, and cherry blossoms are blooming early this year in Sapporo! Preparations for the 33rd Pacific Music Festival are in full swing.
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The 2023 PMF Orchestra
The 74 members of the PMF 2023 Orchestra Academy have been announced!
They hail from 22 countries and regions and were selected from among 1,090 auditions - the highest numbers in recent years. The PMF Orchestra will perform 7 concerts, led by Krzysztof Urbański, Thomas Dausgaard and Daniel Matsukawa, and each orchestra member will also perform chamber music, with concerts in various venues throughout Sapporo and beyond.
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PMF 2023 outline
The PMF Orchestra Academy is known and loved for its unique configuration each year, with its diverse members only playing together for the one summer. Together they create an inspirational synergy with conductors, soloists, and the PMF faculty members who perform alongside them on many concerts.
In the first half of the festival, Polish conductor Krzysztof Urbański makes his return to PMF after his first appearance in 2011, conducting a lineup of beloved works ranging from PMF-founder Leonard Bernstein’s overture to Candide, which has signaled the opening of PMF every year for more than a decade, to Grieg’s Piano Concerto with pianist Jan Lisiecki and Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 5.
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In the latter half of the festival, Danish conductor Thomas Dausgaard leads the PMF Orchestra for the first time. Known for his creative interpretations of classical works and innovative performing style, Dausgaard will perform Bruckner’s Symphony No. 9* with completed finale!
*SMPC Conclusive Revised Edition, 2012
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And for the first time in 4 years, Daniel Matsukawa will conduct the PMF Link Up Concert. Based on the program developed by the Weil Music Institute at Carnegie Hall, this concert has become a core piece of PMF’s outreach, with adaptions made annually in line with the needs of 6th grade students in Sapporo. Participating students sing, play recorders, and play on original percussion instruments, all with the PMF Orchestra. We hope that Link Up nurtures a love of music in them that lasts a lifetime!
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PMF in their own words
PMF is a non-profit organization, sustained by the generosity of individuals like you. It provides a uniquely multicultural learning environment for young musicians from all over the world, increasing international mutual understanding alongside musicianship.
In this new series we will share messages from PMF faculty members and more, as they address what PMF means to them. We hope that their messages will resonate, and that you will consider making a donation to help sustain the work of the festival.
Daniel Matsukawa has served as a member of PMF faculty for more than 2 decades, and before that was himself an Academy member. He is principal bassoon of the Philadelphia Orchestra and is active as a conductor, educator, chamber musician, and more.
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In the last issue we featured an interview with Moni Simeonov (violin, PMF 2005, 2006, 2007) and in this issue we feature an interview with one of his students!
Ryo currently serves as a member of “The President’s Own” Marine Chamber Orchestra in Washington D.C.
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What made you want to apply for PMF?
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As soon as I heard about PMF, I knew I had to apply! Being Japanese, it was the perfect opportunity for me to return home and perform in front of my family while sharing the stage with members of the Berlin Phil, Vienna Phil, and major American orchestras. I had never performed in Japan before PMF and it was so wonderful seeing my family and friends at our performances.
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Is there any difference between the way you thought of PMF before you participated and how you think of it now?
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PMF was everything I expected from a summer festival, but also more - it was life changing. I made great friends from all around the world whom I am still in touch with today and I still remember our performances, in particular Ravel’s Daphnis and Chloe with musicians from Berlin and Vienna Phil. During the festival I learned so much about managing a schedule with rigorous rehearsals, performing and blending in fantastic acoustics (Kitara is such an amazing hall!), and communicating with colleagues who did not share the same background. The musical and personal bonding between my colleagues at PMF helped me solidify my love towards orchestral playing. I am lucky to say that I am now a member of “The President’s Own” US Chamber Orchestra in Washington DC and PMF definitely played a large part in preparing me for the job.
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What do you hope the next generation of young musicians will take away from their time at PMF?
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When I think of Summer 2017 at PMF, all I can do is smile and remember the joy I experienced. Those memories come from the time I spent with amazing friends both in rehearsals and late nights out in Sapporo, as well as sharing the stage with superstar musicians. PMF also creates a network of musicians around the world even if you did not attend the same year as someone else. I met someone in Europe recently and the fact that we had both spent time at PMF allowed us to converse and share our experiences. I hope that future attendees of PMF can have a similar positive experience as I did and that their time in Sapporo inspires them to pursue a career in orchestral playing.
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Winter Concert Report
Various PMF events took place over the winter season, in Sapporo and Tokyo, with Covid restrictions now lifted.
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The Sapporo Snow Festival
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The Sapporo Snow Festival attracts visitors from all over Japan and the world, and this year it took place after a 3-year hiatus. An alumni string quartet was invited to perform at its opening reception, and 3 other alumni ensembles performed concerts at the Sapporo Clock Tower during the festival, the Clock Tower concerts also being livestreamed.
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An alumni string quartet performed
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An alumni string quartet performed at “Chikaho” (Ekimae-dori underground walkway) in central Sapporo.
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A promotional event
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In Tokyo, the City of Sapporo hosted a promotional event at the Imperial Hotel and invited an alumni string quartet to perform for participants.
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The PMF Classical Lab♪
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The PMF Classical Lab♪ was held in the Creative Studio at Sapporo Cultural Arts Theater hitaru. The 3rd and final in the “Musical Journeys” series was presented to listeners of all ages, focusing on French music, with Arisa Iida giving a lecture contrasting the lives and works of the so-called Impressionists Debussy and Ravel. The second half featured a solo concert by harpist Eriko Miota performing works by Debussy, Ravel, and Tailleferre.
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These off-season PMF concerts play an important role in maintaining awareness of PMF in Japan, and we have several more scheduled for spring and early summer!
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