[Member Interview] Akane Hatakeyama (1st violin)

We will be sending you regular interviews with members of the orchestra leading up to the concert. First up is Akane Hatakeyama (first violin)!

Q: Where are you from?

A: Miyagi Prefecture.

Q: What is your favorite food?

A: Monjayaki.

Q: How long have you been making music?

A: I've been doing it since I was 3 years old, but I don't like practicing so I'm not very good at it (laughs).

Q: What is the best thing about being a musician?

A: Meeting people. I love the fact that we all gather together, all of whom are complete strangers at first, but all of us work towards the same goal, playing the same song. If I hadn't joined the Tohoku Youth Orchestra (TYO), I would never have met everyone. I don't think I would have been able to make so many friends.

Q: Has anything changed since 3/11?

A: I've come to realize that there is nothing that we take for granted. I didn't suffer that much damage, but our electricity and gas were cut off for about one or two months, and watching TV, taking a bath, and other things like that were not things we took for granted. I realized how grateful I am for the things that are part of everyday life.

Q: How is your work at TYO going?

A: It's very fulfilling. In club activities, it was just fun to play music, but in TYO, we have the goal of spreading awareness about the earthquake disaster. Also, many of the members have high levels of technique. Everyone is ambitious, and I'm really inspired by them. I'm really glad I joined.

Q: Please tell us your enthusiasm for the concert in March!

A: Last year was the first time, and we were feeling our way around without knowing anything, but this time we have been able to make use of the lessons learned from last year, and practice is progressing smoothly. We also have volunteers who perform at temporary housing. In addition to performing, we also want to cherish our goal of conveying the Great East Japan Earthquake. We also play folk songs from Tohoku. We want people in the Kanto region to feel the Tohoku region.