About Nagoya Philharmonic Orchestra

Nagoya Philharmonic Orchestra

The Nagoya Philharmonic Orchestra (NPO) is recognized as the leading orchestra in the Tokai region, the central part of Japan. The NPO has an excellent reputation on the Japanese classical music scene, for both its innovative programming and its wonderful performances. The NPO is called “Mei-Phil”, with love, by Japanese audiences, and holds a firm position as one of Japan’s top professional orchestras.

In April 2023, KAWASE Kentaro becomes the new Music Director, and KOIZUMI Kazuhiro becomes the new Honorary Music Director of the NPO. The NPO has established relationships with many conductors. Its present conductors are KOBAYASHI Ken’ichiro (Conductor Laureate since 2003), Moshe ATZMON (Honorary Conductor since 1993), Thierry FISCHER (Honorary Guest Conductor since 2011). In April 2023, KOIDE Noriko is appointed as the fourth “Composer in Residence” of the NPO.

The NPO has toured internationally four times, performing very highly acclaimed concerts as follows:

– 1988	France and Switzerland / Conductor: HIROKAMI Jun’ichi
– 2000	Brunei, Singapore, the Philippines, South Korea, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand and Taiwan / Conductor: HONNA Tetsuji
– 2004	Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic (“Prague Spring” international music festival) / Conductor: NUMAJIRI Ryusuke, MUTO Hideaki and Tomáš HANUS
– 2006	Singapore, the Philippines, Taiwan, South Korea, Thailand, Hong Kong and Malaysia / Conductor: SHIMONO Tatsuya

The NPO has recorded over 30 discs. Many awards and prizes have been earned, including the 23rd Tokai TV Cultural Prize in 1990, the Aichi Prefecture Arts and Culture Prize in 1991, the Agency for Cultural Affairs Work of Art Award in the Recording Division in 1997, the 32nd Music Pen Club Awards in category of Classical Music (Contemporary Music) in 2020 for the Composer in Residence of the NPO, and so on.

Musicians from the City of Nagoya and the surrounding area founded the NPO in July 1966. The first subscription concert delighted the audience in October 1967. Subsequently, the NPO received an endowment from the City of Nagoya in 1973.

Today, the NPO performs about 110 concerts a year. Various concerts include Subscription Concerts, popular Famous Works Series, Welfare Concerts for disabled persons and Orchestra Concerts for Kids and Families.