Resident Conductor: Hidekazu Himoto

Born in 1954 in Tokyo. Graduated from the Vocal Music School and Conducting department at Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music. Studied vocal music from Ryousuke Hatanaka, Tadahiko Hirano and Akio Ookubo, and conducting from Eiichi Itou, Nobori Kaneko, Masahisa Endo, Martin Mälzer and Koutarou Satou. Received Ataka Prize while studying at the university. Conducted at Beijing, Xi’an, and Shanghai in 1984 by the invitation from the China government. In 1985 at the Carnegie hall, conducted the “silber bridge concert” celebrating 25th anniversary of sister city partnership between Tokyo and New York. The performance received a high reputation in the New York Times.

In the field of Opera he conducted ”Mourning” composed by Mareo Ishiketa in 1981, “Magic Flute” in 1984. Conducted many operas at Japan Opera Association, New National Theatre, etc. In the field of Choir he conducted Waseda University Glee Club, Musashino Choir, Tokyo Chorus, Keio University Wagner Society Female Choir, Aoyama University Green Harmony Choir and others. He also conducted many Choral music with Orchestra, such as Handel “Messiah”, Mozart “Requiem” and “Coronation Mass”, and Verdi “Requiem”. He was a Conductor-in-Residence of the Tokyo Philharmonic Chorus from 1990 to 2007. In January 2002 he was appointed as a Chief Conductor of TLT1925. His instruction style to increase the ability to concentration of members (emphasis on reading of the score and scene hidden in the poem, pulling out color and a sense of movement, and sometimes singing himself while conducting) contributed a lot for the improvement of TLT 1925. During the 6th concert tour of TLT 1925 to Germany in 2012 he conducted Japanese and German songs at Frankfurt Choir Festival and concerts at various places, and received a standing ovation at each concert. In January 2014 he premiered the opera “Misuzu” which is based on his draft script and composed by Sayaka Ishiguro at the New National Theater and it was well received.

At present he is a lecturer at Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music, Toho Gakuen Junior Colledge, Nikikai Opera Training Institute, Opera Singer Development Department at the Japan Opera Foundation. In addition, he is active as a Jury for Choral Competition, and lecturer at Choral workshop and conductor workshop. He organizes his own opera company.

Sumiya Utsushigawa : Bariton/Voice Trainer

Born in Manchuria in 1942. Chorus activity during high school days triggered to study at the vocal music department of Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music. Studied with Teiichi Nakayama. Received the Ataka prize. Chosen as the solo singer of the University Messiah performance and the Yomiuri rookie concert

Converted from Bass to Baritone while studying under guidance of R. Ricci. This gave him incentive to further study the vocal training method until now.

Upon graduation he worked as a voice trainer and at the same time studied as the Nikikai student. Then he went to Italy. After having studied mainly under L. Bellon in Milan, he returned to Japan. He started again the voice trainer and performer. Guided many choirs and singers. One of the choirs received the first prize at the national chorus competition several times consecutively. His singing method and vocalization have gradually been penetrating in the members of TLT 1925.

As a result of vocalization research he translated the first full-fledged academic literatue of vocal term dictionary (by Cornelius Ried) in Japan and published it in 2005. He is now writing the full-fledged reference for Methodology of　F．Fusler, which is said to be the bible of Bell Canto singing method. This will be published in 2015.