Founding conductor Akeo Watanabe
Founding conductor Akeo Watanabe
Profile
| 1919 | Born in Tokyo on June 5, 1919. |
|---|---|
| 1935 | Entered the Tokyo Music School's instrumental music department |
| 1945 to 1946 years | Conductor of the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra |
| 1948 to 1954 years | He serves as the conductor and principal conductor of the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra. |
| 1950 to 1952 years | Studied conducting at the Juilliard School in the United States |
| 1956-1968 | Participated in the founding of the Japan Philharmonic Orchestra (June 22nd).
He served as music director, permanent conductor, and executive director until 1968. The orchestra caused a great sensation in the music world at the time with its wide-ranging repertoire and innovative performance style that went beyond the boundaries of German and Austrian music, which had previously dominated the Japanese music scene, and the founding of the Japan Philharmonic Series (commissioning and premiering works by Japanese composers). In 1964, he led the Japan Philharmonic Orchestra on a successful tour of North America, covering 34 dates in 31 cities. |
| 1969 | In 1969, he moved to Switzerland and gave guest performances throughout Europe. |
| 1987-1990 | In November 1987, at the strong request of all members of the Japan Philharmonic Orchestra, he returned to his position as Music Director.
In June 1989, the Japan Philharmonic Orchestra held a birthday concert to celebrate his 6th birthday. Passed away on June 22, 1990. Commander's Medal of the Order of the White Rose and Knight's Medal of the Order of the Lion, 1st Class, from the Finnish government. Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters from the French government. He has also received many other awards, including the Japan Art Academy Award, the Mainichi Art Award, the Record Academy Award, and the Mobile Music Award. In addition to being the founding conductor and music director of the Japan Philharmonic Orchestra, he also served as honorary conductor of the Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra, honorary music director of the Hiroshima Symphony Orchestra, music director of the Kyoto Symphony Orchestra, professor emeritus of Tokyo University of the Arts, professor emeritus of Sakuyo College of Music, president of the Sibelius Society, and chairman of the Star Dancers Ballet Company. In 1978, he was elected a member of the Japan Art Academy, and continued to be an active figure in Japan's music world. On July 6, 1990, he was awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, Third Class, Junior Fourth Rank. |
About the "Watanabe Akeo Music Trust Fund" and the "Watanabe Akeo Music Fund Music Award"
The Watanabe Akio Music Trust, a public trust, aims to proactively carry on the great achievements of the late Mr. Akio Watanabe, a leading figure in the Japanese conducting world, and to contribute to Japanese music culture.
It was established on June 22, 1992, with the hope of contributing to the development of Japan's music industry.
Based on the purpose of the trust, this charitable trust has established the "Watanabe Akio Music Fund Music Award/Special Award" to recognize outstanding conductors who will lead the music world in the next generation.
The purpose of the award is to honor those who have contributed to the orchestra world, thereby contributing to the development of music culture in Japan.
Watanabe Akeo Music Fund
steering committee
- Steering Committee Chair
- Yasuo Watanabe (pianist)
- Steering Committee
- Tadaaki Otaka (Conductor)
Tomotoshi Goto (Executive Director, Japan Philharmonic Orchestra)
Ken Takaseki (conductor)
Hiroo Tojo (music critic)
Yukio Fujioka (Conductor)
List of Watanabe Akeo Music Fund Awardees
| 1th (1993) | Music Award: Kazushi Ohno | Special Award: Enmei Sennosuke |
|---|---|---|
| 2th (1994) | Music Award: Junichi Hirokami | Special Award: Chiaki Murakawa |
| 3th (1995) | Music Award: No winners | Special Award: Takashi Ogawa, Seizo Suzuki, Jun Tanaka |
| 4th (1996) | Music Award: Ken Takaseki | Special Award: No recipients |
| 5th (1997) | Music Award: No winners | Special Award: Keizo Saji |
| 6th (1998) | Music Award: Kim Hong-jae | Special Award: Hiroshi Ishimaru |
| 7th (1999) | Music Award: Ryusuke Numajiri | Special Award: Matsubara Chiyoshige |
| 8th (2000) | Music Award: Naoto Otomo | Special Award: Minoru Nagaoka, Toshiya Eto |
| 9th (2001) | Music Award: No winners | Special Award: No recipients |
| 10th (2002) | Music Award: Tatsuya Shimono, Yukio Fujioka | Special Award: Shoji Uehara |
| 11th (2003) | Music Award: Yutaka Sado | Special Award: Masaharu Watanabe, Naozumi Yamamoto |
| 12th (2004) | Music Award: Tetsuro Ban | Special Award: Akira Miyoshi |
| 13th (2005) | Music Award: Norichika Iimori | Special Award: Kusakari Tsuzo |
| 14th (2006) | Music Award: No winners | Special Award: Shigeto Kanayama, Hiroshi Okawachi |
| 15th (2007) | Music Award: Toshiyuki Kamioka | Special Award: Mr. Shoji Onodera, Japan Philharmonic Kyushu Performance Liaison Committee (Group) |
| 16th (2008) | Music Award: No winners | Special Award: Hiroyuki Iwaki |
| 17th (2009) | Music Award: No winners | Special Award: Jean Fournet, Affinis Cultural Foundation |
| 18th (2010) | Music Award: No winners | Special Award: Hiroshi Wakasugi, Museum of Modern Japanese Music |
| 19th (2011) | Music Award: No winners | Special Award: Seiji Ozawa Special Support: Sendai Philharmonic Orchestra |
| 20th (2012) | Music Award: Kazuki Yamada | Special Award: Yasuo Nakafuji |
| 21th (2013) | Music Award: No winners | Special Award: Nagata Ho |
| 22th (2014) | Music Award: No winners | Special Award: Kodama Koji |
| 23th (2015) | Music Award: Kentaro Kawase | Special Award: Hubert Soudant, Kazuyoshi Akiyama |
| 24th (2016) | Music Award: No winners | Special Award: Alexander Lazarev, Shinichiro Ikebe, Michiyoshi Inoue |
| 25th (2017) | Music Award: No winners | Special Award: Yuzo Toyama, Tsuyoshi Tsutsumi |
| 26th (2018) | Music Award: No winners | Special Award: Eliahu Inbal |
| 27th (2019) | Music Award: No winners | Special Award: Tetsuji Honma, Masayuki Yamada |
| 28th (2020) | Music Award: Nodoka Okisawa | Special Award: Yasuhisa Toyoda |
| 29th (2021) | Music Award: Masato Suzuki and Keitaro Harada | Special Award: No recipients |
| 30th (2022) | Music Award: Gen Ohta | Special Award: Taijiro Iimori |
| 31th (2023) | Music Award: No winners | Special Award: Masaki Tanaka |
| 32th (2024) | Music Award: No winners | Special Award: Nobuo Nishiyama |
| 33th (2025) | Music Award: Daichi Deguchi | Special Award: Toshio Miyazawa |
