Daniel GAEDE
Former concertmaster of the Vienna Philharmonic
Professor at the Nuremberg-Augsburg School of Music

Every of the 15 or 16 students will receive 4 individual lessons of 45 minutes.
The participants can listen to all the lessons of the other students. There will be a class concert at the end of the course where everyone can play. In a concentrated and open atmosphere students can focus and analyze together with me, how to improve their technique and musical approach.

Hamao FUJIWARA
Solo concertmaster of the Yomiuri Nippon SO
Professor at the Toho Gakuen School of Music, Graduate School
Guest Professor at the Tokyo College of Music

I am trying to give at least 4 lessons of about 45 minutes to each student. Basically,
I give a lesson individually, but I always recommend my students to audit other students’ lessons as you can learn a lot from audition. The atmosphere of my class is very homey, and we have a class concert at the end of the period where every student shows his result of study. I hope my students will study as many things as possible and find at least one useful hint for their further study of violin.

Seiji KAGEYAMA
Winner of the top prize at the 1984 Long-Thibaud competition
Professor at the Tokyo College of Music
Former student of the Kirishima International Music Festival

I myself was a student who studied at the festival. It offers two weeks of leisurely immersion in music while encircled by rich nature of Kirishima Highlands with a glimpse of Sakurajima on a clear day. In my class, I try to give comprehensive private lessons meeting the needs of every level. It concludes with a class concert, in which all of you are to perform the repertoire you studied throughout the period. Auditors to the lessons are also welcome! Let us make this summer a fulfilling time enjoying concerts and challenging orchestral and chamber music.

Mazumi TANAMURA
Solo Violist of the NHK SO
Former principal violist of the Theatro Communale of Florence
Former solo violist of the Yomiuri Nippon SO

The class is intended for a small number of students to ensure that everyone may be able to take intensive lessons. Though they may be some who switch from violin to viola, those instruments are fundamentally different. For such students, I take my time and start with the basics like how to hold the instrument and bow. During the festival, I try to give as many lessons as I can so that you may be able to learn the basics thoroughly within the limited time of two weeks and to bring the result back home with you.

Tsuyoshi TSUTSUMI
President of the Toho Gakuen School of Music and its Graduate School
Director of Suntory Hall
Music Director of the Kirishima International Music Festival

The cello class has three features. Firstly, all the lessons are open to the public.
You are allowed to audit other students’ lessons in addition to your own, therefore, are able to learn more. Secondly, some lessons are given in English as we have many foreign students. You may be able to get used to the international settings of master classes in Europe and US, and to be prepared for studying abroad in the future. Thirdly, during the festival period it is possible to take lessons by Prof. Park and take or audit the lessons of other participating professors and artists. In this way you can have an even more fulfilling experience at Kirishima which will surely prove to be valuable in the future.

Kyungok PARK
Professor at Hanyang University, College of Music (Department of String and Wind Instrument)

The students in my class will have at least 5 lessons during the Festival. Classes are open to public basically, but private sessions are also possible upon request. The students who are enrolled in my class can also have opportunities to play in Mr. Tsutsumi's master classes. For example you can play once or twice for Mr. Tsutsumi and 3 or 4 times for me. There will be student's concert aside from Lobby Concert and Final Concert at the end of the course. My lessons will cover from the basic technical training to interpretation of representative cello repertoires. Since the class would accommodate large number of international students, the lessons will be given in English, German, Japanese, and Korean according to the circumstances.

DANG Thai Son
Winner of the 10th International Frederick Chopin Piano Competition
Visiting Professor at the Kunitachi College of Music
Jury member of the 16th Chopin International Piano Competition

A real meeting point for music between students from Japan and other countries .At least 4 lessons of 45 min. are given to each ,all lessons are open and chance to play indifferent types of concert including the class's concert where everyone will participate .

Shigeo NERIKI
Professor at the Indiana University
Giving Lesson at the Tokyo Gakuen School of Music, the Kunitachi College of Music, Soai University, the Elizabeth School of Music

My class is open to the public and anyone may come and go freely. During the festival, I plan to give 4 or 5 lessons. My ideal is to turn the class to a space to discuss and share the music among music lovers. You are offered opportunities to play the harpsichord and pianoforte in the hall and to challenge the mystery of classical interpretation. We also work on duo and chamber music, approaching music from a different angle. In Kirishima, you will learn the joy of living music by mingling with musicians, and will see their everyday life that you normally cannot e.g., practice, dress rehearsal, concert and what goes on behind the scene. Let us make it the memorable two weeks.

Akira WAKABAYASHI
Winner of the 2nd Prize at the 1987 Queen Elisabeth International Music Competition of Belgium
Professor at the Toho Gakuen School of Music, Graduate School

In my lessons, I always ensure to communicate the most important points according to each student’s individuality so that you will be able to make continuous progress not only during the festival but also beyond it by referring on what you learned. You take 4 to 5 lessons of 45 minutes. It takes a lot courage to look at oneself honestly, but everyone who seriously wishes to improve as a musician is most welcome. At the end of the festival, you perform in the class concert showcasing your achievement of the two weeks. I encourage you to firmly acquire the foundations of an “earnest attitude” to music making and spend two fulfilling weeks amid the natural beauty of Kirishima.

Emily BEYNON
Principal flautist of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra

I have been coming to Kirishima since 2004 and enjoy the location, teaching & concerts enormously! We always have a very close-knit class with a real 'family' feeling, all supporting each other. Most lessons take place in masterclass format and I encourage participants to listen as much as possible; learning to listen is as important as learning to play the flute! We also have some sessions when we focus on a particular topic (tone, articulation etc.) and others when we all play together; exercises, scales or flute ensemble pieces, and we will all perform together in a flute ensemble concert! It’s going to be fun!
(My lessons will begin on the 3rd day. On the first 2 days, you will study pieces played on both flute and violin with Prof. Katsuya Matsubara.)

Osamu TAKAHASHI
Principal trumpetist of the Tokyo Metropolitan SO
Associate Professor at the Senzoku Gakuen College of Music
Guest professor at Ueno Gakuen University
Lecturer at the Tokyo College of Music

In principle, I give 3 to 4 lessons of 45 minutes per student. In addition, all students play together to achieve better ensemble and participate in orchestra study for which different time slots are set aside from master classes(Optional). As we live together day in and day out during the festival, we may be able to deepen our friendship even outside of the lessons and to spend the meaningful two weeks. The past participants are presently active in various music scenes, applying what they learned in Kirishima to everyday life.

Takato SAIJO
Principal hornist of the Tokyo Metropolitan SO
Lecturer at the Tokyo University of the Arts (former Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music), Musashino Academia Musicae and the Kunitachi College of Music

I plan to give 3 or 4 lessons of 45 minutes per participant. While lessons are basically in one-on-one format, ensemble and orchestra study (Optional), if so required by students, are also offered. The class is very relaxed and you may able to work and make progress free and easy while having fun. High school students preparing for a music school examination are also welcome. There is an opportunity for you to show the result of your effort and for selected students to perform in concerts with the faculty. Some of the past participants became professional. Let us enjoy the lessons from basic to practical in the heart of nature, sharing the same purpose.

Katsuya MATSUBARA
Associate Professor at the Tokyo University of the Arts
Former concertmaster of the New Japan Philharmonic

The chamber music class is a practical course in which the professor and students repeat rehearsals toward the concert. In the heart of nature in Kirishima, we will come face-to-face with and seek for musical beauty for two weeks. I look forward to the pleasure of sharing such joy with you.

Masahiro TANAKA
Principal cellist of the Tokyo Metropolitan SO
Finalist of the 9th International Tchaikovsky Competition
Former student of the Kirishima International Music Festival

It will be a precious experience for you to work in ensemble with first-class musicians active at the forefront in Japan and to share the moment of creating music, living under the same roof. Such wonderful experience may be offered only at the Kirishima International Music Festival.