The 6th "Chamber Music School in Kyoto" will be held from January 2026th to 1th, 9.
The program, which includes a preliminary online course and four days of rehearsals and the actual performance, will not only teach performance techniques, but will also delve into how to deeply understand sheet music and how to create music as an ensemble. Each session will allow participants to face their own challenges and realize their own growth over the four days.
We look forward to receiving applications from anyone who is serious about learning chamber music.
After the Chamber Music School period ends, we may invite you to future performance opportunities (e.g., Young Artist Performances, etc.).
ⅠOverview
At Music Dialogue, we hope to help young musicians become excellent performers who understand the true essence of ensemble work by learning true music-making alongside experienced musicians through chamber music. This is a rare opportunity to experience the process of music-making at an international level while performing alongside Heiichiro Oyama (Artistic Director of Music Dialogue), a conductor and violist who has served as music director and principal violinist at various orchestras and music festivals around the world, and Mayuko Ishigami (Music Dialogue artist), a violinist active as a soloist and chamber musician.
→For details and related articles about the 2025th "Chamber Music Academy in Kyoto" to be held in 5,CLICK HEREYou can see from the link.
[Period]January 2026th (Friday) - 1th (holiday/Monday), 9
[Meeting place]Asahidou Musical Instrument Store (24 Fujikicho, Teramachi-dori Ebisugawa-agaru, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto City)
*Only on the first day, January 1th, at Imabuku Concert Hall (9-1-10 Imabuku Higashi, Joto-ku, Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture)
[Instruments available]Piano, violin, viola, cello
[Course Content]
-Lessons/rehearsals in which students will form a chamber music group with Heiichiro Oyama and Mayuko Ishigami.
・Days 1-3: Rehearsals for each group, 1-XNUMX hours per day (open to the public)
Day 4: Dress rehearsal (closed), performance (open)
The pieces to be studied will be decided by the school principal after examining students' career history, performance experience, desired pieces, etc.
★In December, you will take a 12-hour online course (on music history, song analysis, etc.) taught by music writer Takayuki Komuro, which will help you prepare for the pieces you will perform.
*As a rule, the orchestra consists of 3 to 5 people, including piano, violin, viola, and cello.
*Due to the composition, songs other than the one you requested may be selected.
[Lecturer's background]
Heiichiro Ohyama (viola) After graduating from Toho Gakuen School of Music, he graduated from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in the UK. He then trained at Indiana University in the US. After participating in the Marlboro Music Festival as a violist in 1972, he was invited to many international music festivals, performing with such famous musicians as Gidon Kremer, Radu Lupu, and Isaac Stern. In 1979, he was appointed principal viola of the LA Philharmonic led by Carlo Maria Giulini, and in 1987, he was appointed assistant conductor to Andre Previn. Since then, he has conducted in various parts of Europe and the US as a guest conductor. He has also conducted many orchestras in Japan. He has served as artistic director of the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival and the La Jolla Summerfest in the US. He was the principal conductor of the Kyushu Symphony Orchestra for five years from 1999, and the principal conductor of the Osaka Symphony Orchestra for three and a half years from 5. In 2004, he retired from his 3-year professorship at the University of California. He was the music director of the Nagasaki Music Festival for three years from 2003. In 30, he retired from his 2007-year tenure as music director of the Santa Barbara Chamber Orchestra. In 3, he received the Fukuoka City Cultural Award, in 2017 the Agency for Cultural Affairs' Art Festival Excellence Award, and in 35 the Santa Barbara City Cultural Achievement Award. He is currently the artistic director of Music Dialogue, the CHANEL Pygmalion Days Chamber Music Series, and the Lobero Theatre Chamber Music Project in the United States.
Mayuko Ishigami (violin) At the age of 8, he was invited to the Rome International Music Festival. He won second place at the 77th Japan Music Competition, as well as the Audience Award and E. Nakamichi Award. He has also won other competitions in Japan and abroad. He has appeared on NHK FM's Famous Pieces Recital and Recital Nova. He has performed with orchestras in Japan and abroad, including the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra, Kyoto Symphony Orchestra, Sendai Philharmonic Orchestra, Osaka Philharmonic Orchestra, and Brasov National Symphony Orchestra. He has also appeared at many music festivals overseas. In addition to his solo activities, he is also active as a member of the Nagaokakyo Chamber Ensemble and Ensemble Kujoyama. He is the founder of the Ensemble Amoibe series. He is a Music Dialogue artist. He is a CHANEL Pygmalion Days chamber music artist. He is a registered artist for the first period of the Kyoto Concert Hall. His CD "Janaček: Violin Sonata" is now on sale from Nippon Columbia.
II. How to apply
【Subjects】
In principle, applicants must be under 35 years of age and are studying music professionally aspiring to become performers, or are already active as performers, and wish to further improve their performance technique and ability to interpret chamber music.
[Training fee]66,000 JPY (TAX+)
*Transportation, accommodation, meal costs, etc. must be borne by the participant.
*No refunds will be given if you cancel after payment has been made.
【Application method】
Please send the following documents to the secretariat by post or email (mihoito@music-dialogue.org) by the deadline. (Please note that submitted documents will not be returned.)
- Participation application form
- Participants' photos
Attach image files such as JPG to email. Free size, color. - A recording of your own performance of approximately 1 minutes made within the past year
Please attach and include a wav file or YouTube URL in the email. - One letter of recommendation
A letter of recommendation from a musician. There are no restrictions on the format, so please write about the relationship between the recommender and the applicant, the characteristics of the applicant, and future potential. Please send it directly from the recommender.
*Those who have previously performed with or been taught by Heiichiro Ohyama are exempt from submitting photos, audio recordings, and letters of recommendation.
【Application deadline】Must arrive on Wednesday, September 2025, 10
[Selection and notification]We will select applicants based on their application documents and audio recordings and notify the winners by email by Saturday, November 11st.
[Others]
・Students can observe all lessons/rehearsals during the period.
・Participants will be responsible for all travel, accommodation, lodging and meal costs necessary to attend the course.
[Organizer, application and inquiries]
Music Dialogue Office:
153-0062-2 Mita, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 15-10
info@music-dialogue.org
Sponsor: Music Dialogue, a general incorporated association
Cooperation: Asahidou Musical Instrument Store
ー Chamber Music School in Kyoto 2025 ー
©Ryosuke Yagi
ー From the daily diary ー
It was beautiful to see students who met each other for the first time yesterday spontaneously asking questions and consulting with each other during breaks after a full day of lessons yesterday. I truly wished I had had a seminar like this when I was in my twenties. (Day 20)
Today, there were more smiling students in each group. I think they are enjoying being in an environment where they can seriously engage with music every day. (Day 3)
Every note has meaning, but there is no single answer, so I want to be able to pay attention to what is happening around me while I'm playing, as well as when I'm reading sheet music, and produce notes that match that. (Day 2)
Also, listening to other groups' rehearsals allows me to read the score and listen to the music from a more holistic perspective, which gives me many ideas to apply to my own performances and is a great learning experience. (Day 3)
