Kurashiki has many community orchestras, and it is common to see them performing onstage at events around the city. I feel that these community orchestras, which bring us high-quality live performances, enrich the everyday lives of local residents.
Among the many orchestras, the Kurashiki Orchestra is a historic community orchestra that will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2024. For many years, it has provided opportunities to enjoy live classical music, which people do not often get to hear.
In fall 2024, the Toyota Community Concert in Kurashiki, held in collaboration with the Toyota Group, will take place to mark the orchestra’s 50th anniversary.
Here’s an introduction to the Toyota Community Concert in Kurashiki, where you can enjoy live classical music and performances by professional dancers.
The information in this article was accurate when it was published in October 2024. Please note that it may differ from current information.
About the Kurashiki Orchestra’s “Toyota Community Concert in Kurashiki”
The Toyota Community Concert in Kurashiki is a classical concert to be held at Kurashiki Civic Hall on Sunday, November 3, 2024.
The Kurashiki Orchestra is a community orchestra founded in the city in 1974. It has continued its musical activities in the region under the motto, “High-quality performances with beautiful tones and good ensemble playing,” and will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2024.
Each year, the Kurashiki Orchestra’s main activities are its annual regular concert and performances at the Kurashiki Music Festival. However, this milestone year (2024), the Toyota Community Concert will be held to commemorate its 50th anniversary.
The Toyota Community Concert is organized by Toyota Motor Corporation and Toyota dealerships across Japan together with local orchestras. These concerts bring renowned conductors, music directors, and others together with amateur orchestras from around the country.
The concerts support amateur orchestras active in their communities, with the aim of contributing to local communities through music.
The theme of this concert presented by the Kurashiki Orchestra is “Dancing to classical music.”
It’s a lavish concert where you can enjoy not only live music but also dance performances. The orchestra will collaborate with Omae Koichi, an internationally active dancer who performs with a prosthetic leg, and dancers selected through auditions held across Okayama Prefecture. It promises to be a performance that will keep your eyes glued to the stage.
The concert will be held at Kurashiki Civic Hall. All seats are reserved, so we recommend purchasing tickets early. For information on how to buy tickets and an overview of the concert, visit the Kurashiki Orchestra website.
The Toyota Community Concert is a treat for both the eyes and ears. We interviewed Nishijima Yayoi of the Kurashiki Orchestra to learn more about the concert.
Interview with the Kurashiki Orchestra
How did you come up with the idea for this concert?
Nishijima (surname only)
With the support of everyone in the community, the Kurashiki Orchestra has reached the milestone of its 50th anniversary.
As we continued our activities, we wanted to take a new step forward and wondered, “Is there something new we could take on?” After considering this, we decided to take on the Toyota Community Concert.
Usually, amateur orchestras plan and apply to hold a Toyota Community Concert.
However, to mark our 50th anniversary, we applied for and were selected to realize a project proposed by music director Saegusa Shigeaki: “dancing with renowned professional dancers to Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7.” I think this concert will be a rare and valuable opportunity.
Toyota is also considering a project that connects music with the SDGs, so we hope to use the power of music—which transcends national borders and language barriers—to connect with many people.
Collaborating with professionals must make rehearsals even more exciting.
Nishijima
That’s right. All the orchestra members are looking forward to rehearsing under the guidance of the professionals.
When we rehearsed with Maestro Shinozaki, the conductor who will perform with us, he guided us in a way that was considerate of our needs, and we were able to learn professional techniques while enjoying ourselves. We learned so much, and we’re truly grateful.
For 50 years, we have been making music under the motto, “High-quality performances with beautiful tones and good ensemble playing.” We want to keep striving to improve and contribute to the community through music.
Could you tell us about the pieces you’ll be performing?
Nishijima
We’ll perform three pieces that you’ve probably heard before.
The first piece, “L’Arlesienne,” was composed as incidental music for Alphonse Daudet’s play of the same name, set in Arles in the Provence region of southern France. It incorporates French folk songs, and I think it is pictorial music that vividly brings to mind the scenery of Provence and the lives of ordinary people at the time.
The second piece, “Bolero,” was commissioned from composer Ravel by a ballet dancer from Russia. It has a very unusual structure, with the same rhythm and melody repeated throughout.
First the flute, clarinet, bassoon, and other instruments play in turn, then their sounds overlap to create a grand musical finale. You can enjoy the timbre of each instrument in this performance.
The dancers performing to “Bolero” are local people selected through auditions, ranging from children to adults. They’ve been rehearsing since April, and it looks like it will be a spectacular performance.
The final piece, “Symphony No. 7 in A major, Op. 92,” is a masterpiece Beethoven composed after he began suffering from hearing loss.
Omae Koichi, who will dance to this piece, lost his left leg in a traffic accident but overcame adversity and works as a dancer with a prosthetic leg. He also performed at the closing ceremony of the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Paralympics and has attracted considerable attention.
I think Beethoven’s indomitable spirit in music and Omae’s passion for dance will come together to create a moving performance.
What are the highlights of this concert?
Nishijima
This concert, featuring dance and a full orchestra, is not only enjoyable to listen to but also to watch. The dancers’ breathing and the orchestra’s vibrations will stimulate your senses in many different ways. Since it’s more than just a musical performance, I think you’ll be able to enjoy it without getting bored.
There will also be a talk between music director Saegusa and conductor Shinozaki during the concert, so please look forward to that as well.
Who would you recommend this concert to?
Nishijima
We’d like people of all ages to come.
It’s a concert you can enjoy with both your eyes and ears, and I think you’ll be able to enjoy classical music while engaging all your senses.
I’d also recommend it to elementary school children. We’d be delighted if this concert inspires them to take an interest in dance or think, “I want to play in an orchestra!”
This concert also takes the SDGs into consideration. In conjunction with the “Orange and Purple Ribbon Campaign Month” in November, we plan to set up displays about preventing child abuse and domestic violence. With Toyota’s cooperation, we’ll also have displays on traffic safety, and we hope this will be an opportunity for people to take an interest in social issues as well.
Do you have a message for our readers?
Nishijima
I think this is a new kind of concert that everyone from children to adults can enjoy, so please come along!
From the Writer
I’ve been to a regular concert by the Kurashiki Orchestra before.
Since I rarely get the chance to listen to classical music, I was continually overwhelmed by the powerful sounds and grand performance. I was thoroughly satisfied by the high-quality classical music, which was so good that I could hardly believe it was an amateur orchestra.
This time, it will also be a visual treat, so I think it will be a concert with a new appeal. I’m personally very curious to see what kinds of physical expression will emerge from the classical music.
The Kurashiki Orchestra is always taking on new challenges for the community. Come to the concert and see them in action.
Toyota Community Concert in Kurashiki Information
| Name | Toyota Community Concert in Kurashiki |
|---|---|
| Date | Sunday, November 3, 2024 Doors open at 1:30 p.m. Concert begins at 2:30 p.m. Scheduled to end at 4:30 p.m. |
| Location | 17-1 Honmachi, Kurashiki City |
| Admission (tax included) | Reserved S seats: ¥3,000 General admission: ¥2,000 Students (university students and younger): ¥1,000 * Preschool children are not admitted * Same-day tickets cost an additional ¥500 |
| Website | Kurashiki Orchestra |
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