Every Sunday morning, the sounds of instruments resonate in the exchange building of Kurashiki Fureai no Oka Park.
Members ranging from preschoolers to university students face music with serious expressions.
Before concerts, alumni and local residents also join in, creating a single piece of music across generations, which is the charm of this orchestra.
The Kurashiki Junior Philharmonic Orchestra was established in 1975.
Supported by the community, this orchestra has a strong desire to continue to provide a place where children can freely express themselves through music.
We spoke with instructors, members, and alumni.
50 Years Starting from "I Want to Create a Children's Orchestra"
The Kurashiki Junior Philharmonic Orchestra began with a "Violin Class for Children" opened at Kurashiki Community Center in 1975.
Although Kurashiki City has a long history of art, the founder, Nakamura Taira, felt that music culture has not yet taken root. This desire to create a children's orchestra sparked its inception.
In 1979, music director Ejima Mikio joined, focusing on the training of string players. The predecessor, the "Kurashiki Junior String Ensemble," was formed in 1982.
With the addition of wind instruments, the "Kurashiki Junior Philharmonic Orchestra" was born in 1984.
The orchestra's journey has been supported by the local community.
Securing expensive instruments and practice spaces was not an easy path, but they continued to move forward.
In 1999, it became the first music organization in Okayama Prefecture to obtain NPO status. After the COVID-19 pandemic, the current number of members has decreased to 35, but instructors, parents, alumni, and local residents are working together to continue to protect a place where children can freely express themselves through music.
Ejima's belief that "through orchestra activities, we can nurture children's communication skills and contribute to their personal development" is also passed down in the current activities of the orchestra.
An Orchestra Created Together by Children and Adults
As of June 2026, rehearsals are held every Sunday morning at the exchange building of Kurashiki Fureai no Oka Park. The main activities are the Spring Concert in March and the regular concert in August.
Before the concerts, students from Kurashiki Sakuyo University, alumni, and local groups like Ensemble Hayashima join in, leading to larger rehearsals than usual.
The sight of children and adults lined up on stage is truly the embodiment of "an orchestra played by the whole community."
In addition to regular concerts, they also hold concerts at Kurashiki Heisei Hospital and Kurashiki Kokusai Hotel, as well as ensemble concerts with smaller groups. Instructor Kozuki Masako stated, "I want to focus on ensembles as well," indicating that the scope of activities is likely to expand further.
Additionally, summer camps, Christmas parties, and Halloween events are regularly held. These events are enjoyable for everyone from preschoolers to university students, fostering intergenerational connections beyond music.
During breaks in practice, members were seen taking care of their instruments, binding sheet music for upcoming concerts, and discussing sheet music with each other.
The natural demeanor of the members, who are serious about music yet relaxed, was impressive.
A Basic Course System for Beginners
The Kurashiki Junior Philharmonic Orchestra has a "Basic Course System."
This system allows beginner children who want to learn an instrument or try orchestra to learn in a way similar to taking lessons.
Even without an instrument, they can use the orchestra's loaned instruments, making it easy to start. The target age is 4 years and older, and practice is conducted with careful instruction from instructors for each instrument.
String players transition to orchestra members through auditions, while wind players are determined by the instructor's judgment.
Instead of stepping directly onto the stage, they can first experience being a "half-orchestra member" by playing together for the encore. This system provides a sense of security for both children and parents, allowing them to gradually get used to the stage.
In actual activities, what kind of experiences do the children gain, and what thoughts do the instructors and alumni have in supporting the orchestra? We asked them.
Data on the Kurashiki Junior Philharmonic Orchestra
| Name | Kurashiki Junior Philharmonic Orchestra |
|---|---|
| Address | 119-1-205 Nishinaka, Kurashiki City |
| Contact | For inquiries about observation and membership, please use the contact form on the official website. |
| Website | Kurashiki Junior Philharmonic Orchestra |
