It's the third day of summer training camp.

Today, we had an ensemble practice led by conductor Toshio Yanagisawa at Kitashiga Kogen in Nagano Prefecture from 9am. We started with the third movement of Brahms' Symphony No. 2, so the trumpet, percussion, trombone, and tuba members in the back row practiced on their own.

It's a beautiful sunny day outside the hotel where we are holed up practicing.

Winter is the high season in North Shiga Kogen.

It's hard to imagine the snow falling on this slope and skiers skiing down the summer sky. At the surrounding hotels, there are brass bands, light music bands, and groups of students who seem to be on a sports training camp.

At the training camp, we received some welcome gifts from alumni who graduated from the Tohoku Youth Orchestra this spring!

Mizuki Sone, who played the horn for three years, started working as a nursery teacher in Sendai this April and gave us some local sweets. Zunda cookies, that is, edamame cookies. Thank you very much!

We would be happy to accept any gifts or donations from alumni. If you are reading this article, please consider giving!

So today we're practicing again.