2026.03.12
March 11, 2026: We performed at the Great East Japan Earthquake Memorial and Recovery Ceremony.
Summer Family Concert
A parent-child concert with a history of about 50 years, started in 1975
The Japan Philharmonic Summer Family Concert was launched in 1975 as a pioneering parent-child concert, with the desire to "convey the wonderful power of music to children with sensitive sensibilities." Every year, from late July to early August, around 7 concerts are held in halls around the Tokyo metropolitan area during the summer vacation period, and to date, a total of over 8 million children and their families have experienced the wonder of music.
Nowadays, classical music and orchestral concerts for children are held all over the country, but no other concert has been loved by so many people for so long. Children who grew up listening to the Japan Philharmonic's summer vacation concerts eventually become parents and attend with their children. It is a concert that has been passed down and loved from parent to child, and from child to grandchild.
Summer Family Concert 2021 Video
Wings of Music for Three Generations
Children will experience with their whole body the dynamic sounds of orchestral music that fill the vast space of the concert hall. The rich sounds produced by approximately 90 players, and the mysterious world of sound created by the interplay of various instruments with different timbres, will paint pictures in their minds and create stories. They will gain something important for their lives from this experience.
The concert's programming incorporates a wealth of ideas from the conductor and other musicians, and is comprised of three elements: the joy of orchestral music, collaborations with ballet and other performing arts, and the joy of singing.
Providing a comprehensive concert experience
This concert aims to give children many experiences centered around a live orchestra performance, and will include a "Welcome Concert" by orchestra members, a "Kondankai" after the performance where they can interact directly with the conductor and others, a "Autograph Session" by orchestra members after the performance, and the production of original T-shirts to create a sense of unity at the concert.
In the past, with the cooperation of Joshibi University of Art and Design, we have also held a painting contest based on the theme of the concert, an effort to foster children's sensitivity.
Through this "Summer Family Concert," we at the Japan Philharmonic Orchestra are giving young children, who will carry the future, wings to soar on the rich sounds of the orchestra.
In the summer of 2022, tickets for all performances of the 48th Japan Philharmonic Summer Family Concert were sold out, demonstrating that even as the COVID-XNUMX pandemic continues, children are still seeking experiences that allow them to experience the arts.
The year 2024 marked the 50th anniversary, which was celebrated with an original fanfare.
