World Amateur Orchestra Festival in Shizuoka

August 16 to 19, 2012.
the “Marina” Hall, in Shimizu’s Cultural Center

I had the pleasure of opening the “World Amateur Orchestra Festival in Shizuoka” which took place、this year, at the “Marina” Hall, in Shimizu’s Cultural Center from August 16 to August 19. The festival is an annual event organized by JAO (The Federation of Japan Amateur Orchestras Corp), and this year was its 40th edition. As the result of cooperation from WFAO staff members, this year we invited as many as 100 participants proceeding from 17 different countries. As members of amateur orchestras in Japan, both youngsters and adults, as well as choir singers attending, we can boast the participation of more than 600 musicians, which raises the scale of this festival to an unprecedented level. I want to express my utmost gratitude to the Shimizu Philharmony Orchestra and to all those who have not spared any effort to organize this exceptional event.

Very special thanks go to Her Imperial Highness Princess Takamado for Her gracious presence at the ceremony and for Her warm words that were such a powerful stimulus to all of us.

The theme of the World Youth Orchestra Forum is “Young People’s Dreams for a Beautiful Future- A World Symphony” and the Forum that will count on the presence of representatives from Taiwan, Germany, India, Japan and the Philippines is an exceptional opportunity for all. The Commissioner of the Cultural Agency of Japan, Seiichi Kondo,　who also honored us with his presence, said that in all his years of experience in the Foreign Service he had never attended a more interesting meeting.

The standing ovation and applause at the end of the main concert event which program included performances by three orchestras (Youth Orchestra, Adult Orchestra A and Adult Orchestra B) cannot easily be forgotten. It is all the more admirable if we consider that the performers came together only two and a half days before the event and played alongside musicians they had never met before. This left no doubt, indeed, that “Music is an International Common Language”

A full record of the Festival and the contents of the Youth Forum are being prepared.
To overcome the racial and national barriers through such events is the apex of international exchanges and a source of great joy for everyone involved
I will continue to strive to deepen international exchanges between orchestras on a worldwide level. The complete record of this event will soon be available.

The Federation of Japan Amateur Orchestras Corp. (JAO)
NPO World Amateur Orchestra Federation
Nobuo Kamino, President