This is a report from the second day of the pre-concert training camp on March 28th.

There was a light snowfall on the first day, but the second day was sunny in Morioka.

We head to Morioka Civic Cultural Hall to coincide with its opening at 9am.

In the morning, the usual countdown starts on the whiteboard backstage!

The actual event is fast approaching...

At the morning meeting, the articles published in the Iwate Nippo morning edition were introduced.

Comments from members from Iwate Prefecture were also published.

Today we received a gift of sweets from the Morinaga Angel Foundation.

Ototto, angel pie, chocolate balls, twigs, sweet sake... popular sweets were all there! The members were delighted. Thank you to the Morinaga Angel Foundation.

During the afternoon practice, Mari Watanabe, who will be the moderator for this event, came to Morioka.

(A photo of Director Ryuichi Sakamoto, conductor Toshio Yanagisawa, and Mari Watanabe!)

Mari Watanabe gave us some dorayaki (Japanese pancakes) with the Tohoku Youth Orchestra branding on them! Thank you so much!

Yanagisawa-san actually loves sweets, so much so that she even has an image of a sweet as her smartphone wallpaper...!

After the break, practice resumes.

During the practice of "Kugui no Sora," we received comments from the composer, Aya Nishina, about the image of the song.

After dinner is recreation time.

First, there was a report on volunteer activities.

They reported on their past performance activities, crowdfunding, and email newsletters.

There were also moments when the members burst into laughter.

Next, there will be a presentation of works composed by members that will be performed at the Morioka and Tokyo performances.

↑ "storm" composed by Yota Taguchi (Vn) / performed by Ryo Muraoka (Va)

↑ "Nagare" composed by Shiori Tajima (Hr) / performed by Hinako Isogai (Hr), Ryoya Kano (Hr)

↑ "Across the River" Composer: Akama Sora (Hr) / Performer: Fukuzumi Maon (Tb), Kaizu Kota (Tb)

↑ "Tomorrow" composed by Yoshiko Izawa (Vn) / performed by Takuya Ito (Vn)

↑ "Mekurimeguru" composed by Hirotaka Yamazaki (Cb) / performed by all members

*Yamazaki gave an explanation about the song.

↑ "Concertino for solo Trumpet with Strings Orchestra" Composition: Yuta Tomizawa (Tuba) / Performance: Sarem Fujita (Tp), Miyu Sato (Vn), Akane Hatakeyama (Vn), Hikari Sato (Va), Kenmaru Honda (Vc), Asuka Yoshida (Cb)

The individuality of each member was expressed through their compositions and performances. Please look forward to the live performances in Morioka and Tokyo!

In addition, the lobby concert ensemble groups also performed: a viola octet, an oboe trio, a trombone quartet, and a string quintet.

After the recreational session, Director Sakamoto once again spoke about his intentions behind choosing Brahms' Symphony No. 2.

"I hope that in the future the Tohoku Youth Orchestra will find a sound that is unique to Tohoku.On top of that, it may be helpful for them to listen to the works of musicians from the north.

Brahms was born in Hamburg, in the north of Germany, a city that gets particularly cold in the winter. Perhaps as a result, Brahms' music gives off an overall "cold" impression.

"Brahms' 2" is a warm and pastoral piece among Brahms's works, and it was the first Brahms piece I fell in love with."

 And at the end of the day, we practiced Brahms' No. 2. Were you able to play while imagining the image and atmosphere of Brahms' piece?

Well, the second day of the training camp ended safely without any major accidents or illnesses!

To all members, let's do our best on the last day of the camp...!