100th Anniversary Concert of the Kongo Gakuen Music Club Wind Orchestra - A Special Time to Enjoy the Journey of the Orchestra and the History of Music at Geibunkan Hall

Interview with the advisor of the Kinko Gakuen Music Club Wind Orchestra, Sonoda Yasuyuki, and the president of the alumni association, Fujii Kazuo

The commemorative concert that was scheduled to be held in 2019, marking the 100th anniversary of the club's founding, had to be postponed just before the event due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Three years after the postponement, we will introduce the preparations for the commemorative concert and the feelings involved.

People involved in the 100th anniversary concert

I hear that the commemorative concert will feature a joint performance with the Kinko Wind Ensemble made up of alumni. Can you tell us about the member composition?

Sonoda (honorifics omitted)

There are 30 current members who are active students.

We plan to have members of the Kinko Wind Ensemble as the core, with volunteer alumni joining.

We have already started practicing, but to be honest, we do not have a clear idea of the total number yet.

I have heard it will be around 80, but it seems that the number of volunteer alumni is increasing.

Are there many current members?

Sonoda

I think that most of the volunteer alumni are taking out their instruments from the closet and preparing for practice again, thanks to the commemorative concert.

Additionally, I have heard that alumni who are active in the Kinko Wind Ensemble and professionals are also planning to participate.

Many of my former students are at the stage of having children, so most of the participants are former students of the previous advisor, Sato Masatoshi.

Mr. Sato will conduct the concert.

During the practice for the concert, I think there are also people who are reminiscing and enjoying their club activities.

How are the practices going?

Sonoda

When we planned the commemorative concert in 2019, we had practiced a few times.

However, since it was postponed, we have established an executive committee and started practicing from the end of December last year (2022).

Since then, we have been practicing once a month, and at most twice, and we hope to have about six practices before the actual performance.

The 100th anniversary concert that had to be postponed

You mentioned the postponement, but what was the situation at that time?

Sonoda

Initially, we planned the 100th anniversary concert for March 29, 2019, but in mid-January of that year, COVID-19 was reported in Tokyo.

By February, we realized it would be impossible, so we decided to cancel and postpone it.

We thought we could do it the following year, but three years have passed while we have been timing it every year.

In this fiscal year (2022), we reached the milestone of the 50th regular concert.

In fact, there was also a discussion about combining the regular concert with the commemorative concert, but we decided to keep them separate.

To be honest, I still have a feeling of uncertainty about what will happen this year (2023).

Please share your thoughts on reaching 100 years.

Fujii (honorifics omitted)

The wind orchestra was founded in 1919.

There were periods when we could not perform due to the impact of World War II, but when we resumed activities after the war, we held concerts in the community and elementary schools.

Through various encounters and twists and turns, I believe we have become the wind orchestra we are today.

As the number of members has changed, I have a sense of gratitude for the support of many people and the guidance of teachers that have allowed us to keep the wind orchestra going.

As a milestone, I definitely want to make it a success.

The Kinko Gakuen Music Club Wind Orchestra connected by many feelings

Please tell us about the wind orchestra as a club activity.

Sonoda

Currently, there are 30 members in the orchestra.

It is said that the number has decreased compared to when it was larger, but when there are many, some students may be absent, so I have never felt the lack of numbers during concerts.

I believe we are pursuing quality with the current number, and I think we are achieving that.

In the most formative years, when many things happen, I feel that they are deepening their bonds while aiming for the concert, just as I did when I was a student.

What does the wind orchestra mean to you, Mr. Sonoda?

Sonoda

That's a difficult question.

Club activities are part of education, and I think they are a time to learn things that cannot be learned in the classroom.

When becoming a working adult, the experiences, including hardships, from participating in the wind orchestra support me, and I feel confident in my current job.

I believe the meaning of club activities is to learn things that are applicable in society.

As in this case, I look forward to hearing about their current activities and achievements rather than just the results.

I think it is a place where we can teach things that cannot be taught in classroom lectures.

Please tell us about the relationship between the orchestra members and alumni.

Fujii

In fact, there are not many daily interactions, and the main involvement is as support staff during camps and regular concerts.

As we have started holding regular concerts, the need for backstage support has increased.

Being able to perform splendidly on stage during their active years is thanks to the support staff behind the scenes.

After graduating and becoming alumni, they learn various aspects of stage management and venue setup as supporters.

By observing backstage operations while performing actively, and then helping as support staff after graduation, I believe this experience of connecting with society is the most beneficial when they become working adults.

Then, as they age, they become true support staff.

Sonoda

Including the three years in university, we often say that one graduates after nine years in the wind orchestra.

When they become university students, they first guide the students during the wind orchestra camp, then the following year they take the lead in organizing the camp, and finally, they plan and manage the regular concert.

Nowadays, the lighting is often handled by the venue staff, but other tasks such as reception, door duties, and stage setup are initiated by the thought of wanting to cooperate because they have been supported in the past.

I believe it is a tradition to properly give back to the juniors what we have received.

Highlights of the 100th anniversary concert

Please tell us about the highlights of the commemorative concert.

Sonoda

The concert will consist of three parts: a performance by current orchestra members, a performance by the Century Band composed of the Kinko Wind Ensemble and volunteer alumni, followed by a joint performance of both.

Initially, it was planned to be in two parts, but since it is a commemorative concert, the idea emerged that it is important to stand on the same stage.

I believe that "100 years" is what brings us together.

I am also an alumnus, and looking at the program, there are many pieces that I played during my student days.

I think it will be a concert that everyone from different generations who come to listen will enjoy.

As a wind orchestra, we want to reflect on the 100 years, including episodes from the early days and transitional periods of the club, and structure the concert around that history.

For graduates of Kinko Gakuen, there may be pieces that they remember hearing often during their time as students.

I want to make it a concert that conveys our gratitude for being able to continue what we have built so far to those who come to listen, and we are practicing with that in mind.

Conclusion

"We still have many ideas, and I'm worried about whether we can finish within the scheduled time."

As they wrapped up the conversation, both Sonoda and Fujii smiled.

Because so many people are involved and bring their feelings together, the preparations are certainly not easy, but perhaps it is because of the experiences from their student days that they can overcome these challenges.

I felt that they might be enjoying the preparations for the commemorative concert, including the worries.

What was conveyed through the interview was a desire to express gratitude.

I hope that even those who do not usually encounter wind orchestras will join us at this 100th milestone and enjoy the harmony of history.

Data on the Kinko Gakuen Music Club Wind Orchestra 100th anniversary concert

Name	Kinko Gakuen Music Club Wind Orchestra 100th Anniversary Concert
Date	March 26, 2023 (Sunday) Doors open: 1:30 PM Concert starts: 2:00 PM *Please refrain from direct inquiries to the Geibunkan regarding the commemorative concert.
Location	Kurashiki Central Library
Participation fee (including tax)	Ticket price: 1,000 yen How to purchase tickets ・Purchase from current orchestra members ・Purchase from participants of the Century Band ・Purchase from the Kinko Gakuen Music Club Wind Orchestra website, ticket application form *If purchasing from the ticket application form, payment will be in cash at the venue on the day.
Website	Kinko Gakuen Music Club Wind Orchestra

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