Junichi Hirokami

Junichi Hirokami (広上 淳一 Hirokami Jun'ichi, born May 5, 1958) is a Japanese conductor.

Born in Tokyo, Hirokami studied conducting, piano, musicology, and viola at the Tokyo College of Music. He won the first Kondrashin International Conducting Competition in Amsterdam in September 1984 at age 26. One of the judges of that competition, pianist Vladimir Ashkenazy, then engaged Hirokami to conduct the NHK Symphony Orchestra on a tour of Japan with Ashkenazy in May 1985.

From 1991-1996, he was Chief Conductor of the Norrköping Symphony Orchestra. He served as Chief Conductor of the Limburg Symphony Orchestra from 1998 to 2000. He has also been the Principal Guest Conductor of both the Japan Philharmonic Orchestra and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra.

Hirokami became the Music Director of the Columbus Symphony Orchestra on June 1, 2006, with an initial contract for 3 years.^[1][2][3] During the orchestra's 2008 financial crisis, Hirokami strongly supported the musicians during a protracted contract dispute, which caused strained relations between Hirokami and the orchestra's board and management.^[4] On November 13, 2008, in a letter to the orchestra's musicians, Hirokami announced that the board of the Columbus Symphony Orchestra had dismissed him from his post, effective immediately. Since April 2008, he has served as Chief Conductor of the Kyoto Symphony Orchestra, with an initial contract of 3 years.

Hirokami and his wife Yukari have a daughter, Kimiko.^[4] In 1973, pop singer Junko Sakurada's music inspired then 15-year-old Hirokami so that he started a fan club dedicated to her.^[5]

References

1. Barbara Zuck (2006-12-31). "Symphony sets sail after choosing Hirokami for helm". Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved 2007-03-11.
2. Barbara Zuck (2007-01-21). "Hirokami to lead nine weekends". Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved 2007-03-10.
3. Barbara Zuck (2006-11-05). "Opening performance proves a smashing success". Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved 2007-03-10.
4. Jeffrey Sheban (2008-05-17). "Waiting for an encore". Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved 2008-11-14.
5. Ikeda, Takuo (August 30, 1993). "Youthful conductor finds roots in rock; Critics dislike 'outspoken' performances". The Nikkei Weekly (Japan). p. 20.

External links

• Kyoto Symphony Orchestra English-language page on Hirokami
• Hazard Chase (agency), "Junichi Hirokami appointed chief conductor of the Kyoto Symphony Orchestra". September 2007.
• Los Angeles Philharmonic biography of Hirokami, April 2000
• Limburg Symphony Orchestra Dutch-language page on orchestra history