OUR STORY
From being supported,
to supporting others.
Tohoku Youth Orchestra
empowered by Ryuichi
Sakamoto
From being supported,
MISSION STATEMENT
Even if someone says that the recovery is over,
We will never forget 3.11. Ryuichi Sakamoto may have disappeared from the world, but his spirit will never disappear.
Sakamoto said, “I want children who are hurting and in adversity to know the vastness of this musical horizon. The world is full of disasters and conflicts. Music can bring out the strength to live. If this is the case, what can we, who have been encouraged by music, do in the future?
From being supported,
to supporting others.
Tohoku Youth Orchestra
empowered by Ryuichi Sakamoto
OUR STORY
The Tohoku Youth Orchestra was planned and organized as a result of the Lucerne Festival ARK NOVA Matsushima 2013, a music festival that connects Tohoku with the world, held in Matsushima, Miyagi Prefecture from September to October 2013. The members of the orchestra are mainly from the three prefectures affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake (Iwate, Miyagi, and Fukushima), and are children from elementary, junior high, high school, and university who usually play in different organizations. The orchestra changes its composition for each program (performance). The activities of the Tohoku Youth Orchestra are not limited to simply performing. We consider it a "place of growth" where children in Tohoku can learn about the world through instruction and performances by excellent musicians, as well as through interactions with various people they would not normally meet, and experience it with many friends. We aim for the vitality of the children to energize the adults around them, the entire region, and the entire Tohoku region, and to create a new future.
"There are many things that can only be expressed through music. Things that cannot be expressed well through words can be conveyed through music. We want to convey many moving emotions through music." With this in mind, they will deliver the strong and beautiful music that was born from overcoming the earthquake disaster from Tohoku to the whole of Japan and the world.
HISTORY
- March 2014
In March 2014, the Tohoku Youth Orchestra was established as a general incorporated association, taking over from the Children's Music Revival Fund. Since then, in addition to holding a regular concert every March, the orchestra has been carrying out activities to promote emotional recovery through music, including volunteer performances and commissioned performances.
- September 2013
In September 2013, the Tohoku Youth Orchestra (conductor: Ryuichi Sakamoto) was formed as a limited-time group to perform at the Lucerne Festival Ark Nova Matsushima 2013, a reconstruction support event organized by the Lucerne Music Festival in Switzerland.
- July 2011
In July 2011, musician Ryuichi Sakamoto initiated the Children's Music Revival Fund to provide musical instrument-related reconstruction support and support for performance activities at kindergartens, elementary schools, junior high schools, and high schools in the areas affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake.
MESSAGE
The Children's Music Revival Fund, which was established in 2011, gave us the opportunity to interact with children in Tohoku through music. Even after the three-year fund's activities ended, it was difficult to part ways, and we wanted to develop the Tohoku Youth Orchestra even further, since we had come to know each other and built something together. Although we were concerned that this was an imposition of selfish goodwill by adults who wanted to do something for Tohoku, more than 100 children raised their hands when we called for members.
When I read the reasons why each of them applied, I was deeply moved by the fact that the earthquake disaster still lingers in their hearts as a pain, and at the same time, they are trying to heal and overcome their wounds through music.
Please continue to support the Tohoku Youth Orchestra for many years to come.
Ryuichi Sakamoto