Christmas Concert
The UK-Japan Music Society’s Christmas Concert will be held at St John’s Wood Church, London on Saturday 7th December 2024, having completed 2 full year 30th Anniversary Special Programmes in June this year. The UK-Japan Music Society and the UK-Japan Choir are delighted to present a Christmas Carol Concert this December, highlighting some of the popular carols as well as some of the most beautiful new carols composed by the leading composers of today. At our Christmas Carol Concert, we sing some carols in Japanese, and there are readings in English and Japanese, thus it is presented with a Japanese flavour. We are pleased to feature an award winning young Japanese guitarist, Toh-i Harada, who is currently studying at the Royal Academy of Music, as well as Oli Sheffield, tenor, and Evan Lawrence, organ.
Introducing the musicians
Toh-i Harada is a Japanese guitarist studying at the Royal Academy of Music in London with a scholarship, and he has been awarded top prizes at many international competitions. He first took up the guitar at the age of 3, and during his childhood in Japan he won 1st place in more than ten times at junior competitions. He was also actively volunteering and performing in various care homes. In 2019, he was awarded 1st Prize at the East End International Guitar Competition in Japan. This led to the opportunity to release his first debut album ‘To-i’ in 2020, which received the ‘Recording prize.’ In his debut solo concert in 2021, he performed Picture at the Exhibition (by Modest Mussorgsky). This gained nationwide attention and was broadcasted on Japanese national television. In the same year, he travelled abroad to study in London at the Royal Academy of Music under Professor Michael Lewin.
Toh-i has recently been awarded the Julian Bream Trust Scholarship for two consecutive years, along with 2nd Prize and the ‘Audience Prize’ at the Aalborg Guitar Competition (Denmark) in 2022, 1st Prize at Albania International Guitar Competition (Albania) in 2023, and 1st Prize at Veria International Guitar Competition (Greece) in 2023, 1st Prize at ‘Ida Presti’ International Guitar Competition (Croatia) in 2024, 1st Prize at Guitar Art International Competition (Serbia) in 2024.
Oli Sheffield is a lyric tenor based in Crystal Palace, London. He graduated with a First Class Bachelor of Honours degree from the Royal Northern College of Music where he studied with David Maxwell Anderson, and gained a Postgraduate Diploma from Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance where he was a Kathleen Robert’s scholar and studied with Joan Rodgers.
Oli has been fortunate to study in Berlin, Oslo and New York City where he worked with Trish McCaffrey and Arthur Levy respectively. Oli is currently studying with Jack LiVigni, and feels lucky to be guided by such an incredible singer and teacher.
He has received coachings and masterclasses from Sir Mark Elder, Roger Vignoles, Andrew Owens, Mark Schnaible, John Fisher, David Owen Norris, Anthony Spiri and Neil Davies to name a few.
Oli regularly sings in the UK & France and has a private teaching studio in London, where he helps singers to improve their technique and to progress as performers.
Evan Lawrence is currently in the final year of his degree in violin performance at the Guildhall School of Music, where he studies with the leader of the Brodsky Quartet, Krysia Osotowicz, supported by scholarships from the Harrison Frank Family Foundation and the school. He is an organ student of Daniel Moult, and in January 2024 was awarded his FRCO diploma, winning the Limpus and Dixon prizes for top marks in performance and improvisation.
Growing up in Dublin, Evan studied violin and piano as a scholar of the Royal Irish Academy of Music with Maeve Broderick and Hugh Tinney. He sang with RTÉ Cór na nÓg, where he was encouraged to begin organ lessons by Dr Carole O’Connor, and became her student. At 15, he was appointed Junior Organ Scholar of Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, and in 2021 he received the Sr. Catherine McCauley Cup for the most promising organist in the Feis Ceoil national competition, giving a prize recital for Dublin’s Pipeworks Organ Festival.
Evan held the Champniss Organ Scholarship at the Grosvenor Chapel from 2023, and before this was Organ Scholar of St Mary’s Church, Battersea 2021-2023, while studying with Anne Marsden Thomas. Bursaries from the RCO and the Dunleath Organ Scholarship Trust have allowed him to take part in masterclasses with esteemed organists including Katelyn Emerson, Henry Fairs, Eric Lebrun and Gerard Brooks. He has accompanied choral services at Southwark, Christ Church Dublin, St Edmundsbury and St David’s Cathedrals, and was recently invited to give a recital in Westminster Abbey.
Jonathan Gregory studied organ & choir training with Martindale Sidwell, viola and piano at the Royal Academy of Music where he won the Herbert Kiver Prize, while resident at the Royal School of Church Music at Addington Palace. After the Academy, he graduated from Cambridge University, where he was Organ Scholar at Clare College, and studied with Gillian Weir (organ), John Rutter (composition and history), David Willcocks, Jean Mackie (piano) and others. Jonathan was Cathedral Organist in Leicester and Belfast, and Director of Music at St George’s Belfast and Great St Mary’s, University Church, Cambridge.
He founded the UK-Japan Music Society & the UK-Japan Choir in 1992 to promote cross cultural understanding between Japan & Britain through music, and initiated the UK-Japan Consort in 2017 to support young professional musicians from Japan & UK in their early careers. He has conducted the Bach passions, Christmas Oratorio, Handel’s Messiah, Britten’s War Requiem, music from Japan, etc., released CDs and made BBC Radio 3 broadcasts. He has given organ recitals in UK, Japan, Europe and Asia. Jonathan is an ABRSM examiner, having worked in Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia regularly as well as in UK, and he is currently Director of Music at St Mary’s Church, Monken Hadley, London, Organist of St John’s Baptist Church, Barnet, and also an associate organist for other London churches. He is a Fellow of the Royal College of Organists, and an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music. He was given the distinguished Honour of the Order of the Rising Sun by His Imperial Majesty, the Emperor of Japan in 2011.
The UK-Japan Music Society and UK-Japan Choir were founded by Jonathan Gregory in 1992 as a result of cultural interaction with Japanese musicians he experienced during the Japan Festival 1991. It organises concerts and activities to promote friendship and mutual understanding of Japanese and British people as well as others who appreciate the aims of the Society and culture through music. The Choir of Japanese and British/non-Japanese singers are drawn from London, Cambridge and Leicestershire areas. Performances include Bach’s Christmas Oratorio, St John and St Matthew Passions, Cantatas, Magnificat, Handel’s Messiah, Haydn’s Maria Teresa Mass, Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, music of Purcell, Tallis, Byrd, Britten, Rutter, Vivaldi, Mozart, Faure, others, as well as modern, contemporary and traditional Japanese choral and instrumental music. In December 2017 the UK-Japan Consort was launched, which is a group of young professional musicians – singers and instrumentalists, in order to give support and promote young musicians in their early careers in Japan, UK and Europe.
Tickets are available from Ticketsource digital tickets below – a link and a QR code; also from the members of UK-Japan Choir and at the door – cash or cheque only on the day. https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/uk-japan-music-society/t-gaoydmx
There are two tickets prices of £20 and £10. Children of school age up to 15 yrs are free admission; students aged 16 to full time education is £5. Under school age children are not admitted.
Three Organ Recitals in September
Jonathan Gregory, who is an organist and the Founder and Music Director of UK-Japan Music Society and UK-Japan Choir, gave three organ recitals in London in September; on 17th in Grosvenor Chapel in Mayfair; on 21st in Monken Hadley Church in Hadley Wood, North London; and on 27th in Free Church in Hampstead Garden Suburb, Hampstead. Thank you for attending any of the organ recitals, all of which were well attended and appreciated by the audiences.
Leicester Cathedral celebrated the 50th Anniversary of the founding of the Cathedral Girls’ Choir, which was the first in the Church of England Cathedrals, in September 2024
Jonathan Gregory was the Master of the Music at Leicester Cathedral from 1994 till 2010, and he was invited to attend and conduct part of the Festival Choral Evensong which marked the occasion on 15th of September at Leicester Cathedral.
To celebrate this historic anniversary, the Cathedral held two special events during the weekend of 14 and 15 September.
A Saturday night concert, ‘O Sons and Daughters, Let us Sing,’ was hosted by Classic FM presenter and former Leicester Cathedral chorister Katie Breathwick and brought together Cathedral Choir members past and present to sing a range of pieces from the Choir’s last half-century.
A Choral Evensong on Sunday included a new anthem, commissioned for the occasion, from the acclaimed composer Cecilia McDowall and welcomed guest preacher Revd Dr Victoria Johnson, Dean of Chapel at St John’s College, Cambridge. It was held in the presence of the Lord Bishop of Leicester, the Right Revd Martyn Snow.
Symphony Kūkai Concert
UK-Japan Music Society was pleased to support Symphony Kūkai Concert, which was held at Central Hall, Westminster on Saturday 17th August at 7:30 pm.
Beijing Tianguzhiyin Culture Media Co. Ltd produced and hosted this special concert. Please read the pre-concert information below.
Information in English: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/9X2iG54ZdMDbLtsxtEGDlQ
Video translation in Japanese and in English: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Kw7bYfetHBVlihcwODNKUWBCSyh_gNEA/view
Symphony Kūkai Beijing Tianguzhiyin Culture Media Co. Ltd
[Symphony Kūkai Introduction]
Symphony Kūkai is a transnational artistic collaboration — composed by the renowned Chinese composer Mr Zou Ye, performed by musicians from both China and the UK (with a British choir singing in Mandarin).
Symphony “Kūkai” is inspired by the life story of Master Kūkai (774 –835), who is a founding figure in Japanese Culture. Kūkai took a treacherous sea voyage to Tang China and received teachings from the Chinese master Huiguo in Chang’an. Within a short time, not only did Master Kūkai make unmatched achievements in Buddhism, he also absorbed the advanced culture and technology of Tang China like a sponge. He later brought these back to Japan, which created profound and long-lasting impactson future generations.
Master Kūkai served as the imperial preceptor to four Japanese emperors. He was instrumental in establishing Shingon Buddhism in Japan and building the fundamental bodhimandala on Mount Koya and To-ji, both now recognized as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Master Kukai also established the first school for commoners, providing free education and boarding, with an extensive curriculum encompassing Confucianism, Taoism, Buddhism, and emphasising moral education. His significant public work projects in irrigation continue to serve the agricultural needs of Japan up until today. Furthermore, Master Kukai’s literary endeavours preserved numerous Chinese texts that might have otherwise been lost. He also played a crucial role in the development of Japanese script, composing the Iroha poem as an introductory tool for literacy. Additionally, Master Kukai’s contributions to calligraphy, painting, sculpture, and architecture have greatly shaped Japanese culture, leaving a legacy of national treasures.
Symphony Kūkai, meticulously crafted over two years and completed in 2023, is a joint creation by Beijing Tianguzhiyin Culture Media Co. and the esteemed composer Mr. Zou Ye. It finished the first season of its global tour with performances in Lanzhou, China; Kyoto and Tokyo, Japan. The 2024 music season will present the composition enriched with new lyrics, with Derrick Morgan conducting the Orpheus Sinfonia Orchestra, and featuring the Central Conservatory of Music Choir (China), the Scherzo Ensemble Choir (UK), and the London Chinese Philharmonic Choir. We hope to offer
the London audiences a symphonic event filled with oriental charm.
Beijing Tianguzhiyin Culture Media Co. Ltd is delighted to invite your family and friends to this European Premiere of Symphony Kūkai on 17 August 2024 at Central Hall Westminster in London. All tickets are free of charge (a £2.5 transaction fee is applied by the ticket website). Please book tickets directly at Gigantic website to secure your seats
https://www.gigantic.com/symphony-kukai-tickets/london-central-hall-westminster/2024-08-17-18-30
Sawa Duo was special guests at our Summer Concert at Yamaha Piano Hall, London on 30th June
It was a great honour to welcome Sawa Duo, internationally renowned and distinguished Duo of violin and piano from Tokyo, at our Summer Concert at Yamaha Piano Hall in London, which was a collaboration with Yamaha Music London. The distinguished duo moved and inspired the packed audience, playing music by Mozart, Takemitsu and Grieg. The small UK-Japan Choir sang Coronation music to reflect the recent historic event in UK, Chilcot as well as Japanese songs of summer, to give a contrast to the music by the Duo. Sawa Duo then concluded the concert by playing the favourite Japanese tune in summer, the Song of Seashore by Tamezo Narita as an encore. Professors Sawa and Tadenuma were reunited with their old friends all of whom are distinguished musicians and professors, who came to hear and see them from all over Britain.
Minister Okazaki from the Embassy of Japan headed the VIP guests. It was a great privilege to have the presence of Minister Okazaki, as well as the Right Worshipful Lord Mayor and Mayoress of Westminster and Dr Takechi with us. We were delighted to have Mr Ban and his family from Itochu Europe, Mr Kurita, Mr & Dr Hinkel from Mitsubishi Electric Europe, Mr Ito from Takara Shuzo International, Mrs Spivey, Ms Nakaji and Ms Iwakami from the Embassy of Japan’s Cultural Section with us. We were also pleased to have Ms Parsons, Ms Meehan, Friends from Nichi-ei Otomodachikai, Mr Korczak – Director of Music of the Barnet Church, Ms Wright, friends, the choir families, pupils of Prof Sawa’s former students were with us. It was a closed concert, and we are most grateful to Mr Davies, Mr Agosta, Ms Dearsley of Yamaha Music London, for hosting the concert and the reception after the concert. It was truly a wonderful summer concert.
There was a photo call after the concert, and speeches at the reception.
Our sent our warmest wishes and utter gratitude to Profs Sawa and Tadenuma, as they returned to Europe to continue their European concert tour. We also thank all our guests, family and friends for joining us at Yamaha Music London.
Summer Concert with Sawa Duo at Yamaha Piano Hall
UK-Japan Music is presenting Summer Concert in collaboration with Yamaha Piano Hall on Sunday 30th June at 5 pm. We are honoured that Minister Okazaki from the Embassy of Japan will attend the concert. We are delighted to welcome our Special Guests, Sawa Duo – a distinguished and celebrated husband and wife duo (violin and piano) for 45 years. Professors Kazuki Sawa violin and Emiko Tadenuma piano will play Mozart, Grieg and Takemitsu. UK-Japan Choir and Consort will also have a short programme of music by Handel, Chilcott and Japanese songs, which is often called ‘welcome performance’ by hosting organisation in Japan. We are very grateful for Mr Stephen Davies of Yamaha Music London for all the support given to this special concert.
Introducing the artists
Kazuki Sawa violin
One of the leading violinists in Japan today, Kazuki Sawa has had a distinguished career. Following graduation from Tokyo Geidai (Tokyo University of the Arts ) with a Master of Arts degree and the Premier Prix “The Ataka Award”, he travelled to London to study with Gyorgy Pauk and Bela Katona. He won a number of prizes at international competitions including the Munich (Violin-Piano Duo together with his pianist wife, Emiko Tadenuma), Long-Thibaud (Paris) and Wieniawski (Poland). He was also awarded the Ysaye Medal from the Ysaye Foundation of Belgium and a Gold Medal at the 1979 Bordeaux Festival.
In 1984, Kazuki returned to Japan, where he began a busy professional career both teaching staff at the Tokyo Geidai and also as a soloist/chamber music player. He returned to London in 1989 on a research fellowship at the Royal Academy of Music, where he worked with members of the late Amadeus Quartet, who inspired him to form SAWA QUARTET, which is now regarded as the leading string quartet in Japan. He has been invited to various music festivals such as the Kuhmo Chamber Music Festival in Finland, the Bowdoin Summer Music Festival in USA, the West Cork Chamber Music Festival in Ireland, Ryedale Music Festival and the Lake District Summer Music in UK. He has also been a member of the jury of international competitions such as the Tibor Varga (Sion), the Long-Thibaud, the London String Quartet and the RNCM Manchester.
Kazuki plays on the 1732 Joseph Guarnerius del Gesu violin known as the “Arkwright”. Since 1996, he has also embarked on his career as a conductor. As a violist, he played with internationally acclaimed artists such as members of the late Amadeus Quartet, Henschel Quartet, Kuss Quartet and Gustav Mahler Quartet.
Kazuki Sawa served as the President of the Tokyo Geidai from 2016 to 2022 and is currently an honorary professor of Tokyo Geidai and the Royal Academy of Music, London, a guest professor of the Showa University of Music and a fellow of the Research Centre for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Tokyo.
澤 和樹(ヴァイオリン）
1979年、東京藝術大学大学院修了。「安宅賞」受賞。ロン＝ティボー、ヴィエニアフスキ、ミュンヘンなどの国際コンクールに入賞。イザイ・メダル、ボルドー音楽祭金メダル受賞などヴァイオリニストとして国際的に活躍。’80年より文化庁在外研修員としてロンドンに派遣され、ジョージ・パウク、ベラ・カトーナ両氏に師事。’84年に東京藝大に迎えられるとともに本格的な演奏活動を開始。’89年には、文部省在外研究員としてロンドンの王立音楽院に派遣され、さらに研鑽を重ねた。この時期、アマデウス弦楽四重奏団メンバーとの出会いにより澤クヮルテットの結成を決意する。’96より指揮活動を開始、九州交響楽団、東京フィル、日本フィル、札幌交響楽団、紀尾井ホール室内管弦楽団等にも客演し好評を博す。
東京藝術大学音楽学部教授、音楽学部長を経て2016年より2022年まで東京藝術大学長。2023年、韓国文化体育観光部長官賞を受賞。現在、東京藝術大学•英国王立音楽院名誉教授。昭和音楽大学客員教授、東京大学先端科学技術センター•フェロー。
Emiko Tadenuma pianist
Emiko Tadenuma graduated from Tokyo University of the Arts with the Premier Prix “The Ataka Award”. After completing her graduate studies, she studied under Maria Curcio in London. In 1983, she won third place in the violin and piano duo category at the Munich International Competition with the violinist, Kazuki Sawa. In 1984, she held her solo debut recital in Tokyo and began her full-fledged performance career. She has performed with many famous artists both in Japan and abroad, and has earned a high reputation.
In 2004, Emiko held a piano duo recital with her sister, Akemi Tadenuma, and the CD “Sister Duo’s Gem of a Duet” and the CD “Schumann & Brahms Piano Quintet” with the Henschel Quartet in 2011 were both highly praised in music magazines. Her duo activities with Kazuki Sawa have spanned more than 45 years, and she has been invited to music festivals both in Japan and abroad, including Kuhmo and Savonlinna in Finland, the Lake District in the UK, Bowdoin in the US, and West Cork in Ireland. In 2006, her “Beethoven: Complete Sonatas for Violin and Piano Cycle” was a success throughout Japan and in the UK. In addition, her live CDs from the “Singing Schubert, Schumann, and Brahms” series from 2014 to 2015 were all featured as special selections in the Record Geijutsu magazine.
Emiko Tadenuma is currently a visiting professor at Showa University of Music, and a lecturer at Senzoku Gakuen College of Music and Toho Gakuen School of Music.
蓼沼 恵美子 （ピアノ）
東京藝術大学附属音楽高校を経て、同大学を首席卒業。「安宅賞」受賞。同大学院修了後、ロンドンにてマリア・クルチョ女史に師事。 1983年、ミュンヘン国際コンクール、ヴァイオリン・ピアノ二重奏部門にてヴァイオリンの澤和樹と共に第 3 位入賞。’84年、東京にてソロデビューリサイタルを開催し、本格的な演奏活動を開始する。これまでに、国内外の著名アーティストとも多数共演、高い信頼を得ている。2004 年には、妹、蓼沼明美とピアノデュオによるリサイタルを開催し、CD「姉妹デュオによる珠玉の連弾」、’11年、ヘンシェル弦楽四重奏団とのＣＤ「シューマン＆ブラームスのピアノ五重奏曲」はいずれも音楽誌上で高い評価を受ける。澤和樹とのデュオ活動は45年以上におよび、フィンランドのクフモ、サヴォンリンナ、イギリスの湖水地方、アメリカのボウドイン、アイルランドのウェスト・コークなど、国内外の音楽祭に招聘される。 ’06年の「ベートーヴェン：ヴァイオリンとピアノのためのソナタ全曲チクルス」は国内各地、イギリスでも成功を収めた。また、’14～15 年の「シューベルト、シュー マン、ブラームスをうたう」シリーズのライヴ CD は、いずれも「レコード芸術」特選盤として紹介されている。現在、昭和音楽大学客員教授、洗足学園音楽大学、桐朋学園芸術短期大学講師。
Programme of Music at Summer Concert with Sawa Duo
モーツァルト: ヴァイオリンとピアノのためのソナタ ト長調 K.379
Mozart: Sonata for Violin and Piano in G major K.379
武満 徹:「11月の霧と菊の彼方から」 Takemitsu: From far beyond Chrysantemums and November Fog
グリーグ: ヴァイオリンとピアノのためのソナタ No.3 ハ短調 Op.45
Grieg : Sonata for Violin and Piano No.3 in C minor, Op.45
By Sawa Duo
Handel: from Coronation Anthem, The King Shall Rejoice, Allelujah
Chilcott: Jesus Christ Apple Tree
Taki Rentaro: Mountains of Hakone 滝廉太郎「箱根八里」
Yamada Kosaku: Lullaby from Chugoku Region 山田耕作「中国地方の子守唄」
By UK-Japan Choir & Consort, directed by Jonathan Gregory
Note: A small number of tickets are available for those who are fans of Sawa Duo as well as supporters of UK-Japan Choir. Please apply for tickets by writing to ukjapanmusic@gmail.com.
UK-Japan Music Society concludes the 30th Anniversary programme of concerts and events by the end of this Summer Concert. We would like to thank the Embassy of Japan in UK, our sponsors – Itochu Europe, Mitsubishi Electric Europe, Yamaha Music London & Europe for their invaluable support. Without which tonight’s concert could not have happened.
UK-Japan Music Society has made Music Visit to Japan in April 2024
UK-Japan Music Society made ‘Music Visit to Japan’ in April 2024, visiting churches, conservatoires, school, meeting stakeholders, professors, teachers, students and musicians. Jonathan Gregory, who is a Cathedral organist and the Founder and Music Director, introduced organ music from UK, gave lectures, took a masterclass, gave organ lessons, a choral workshop and concerts – in particular charity concerts for Noto Peninsula Earthquake Relief Fund, discussed future links and strengthened the links between Japan and UK throughout the Music Visit to Japan.
Visits included St Mary’s Church, Ichikawa, Chiba, Toho Gakuen College of Music, Tokyo University of the Arts (Geidai), Thanksgiving and Noto Peninsula Earthquake Charity Concert at St Anselm Catholic Church in Meguro, UK-Japan Choir Reunion Lunch and Presentation of 30th Anniversary Special Glass, St Mary’s Church, Toyama, Kanazawa, Hiroshima – School, Peace Park, and Genbaku Museum, the Anglican Church of Resurrection, SDA Centre Church in Osaka, meetings included the former Japanese Cultural Envoy, Mr Kasamatsu, Head of Music, Rikkyo School and, a former Cultural Attaché, Ms Ochi, and others.
< Highlights of the Visit >
The first visit was to St Mary’s Church, Ichikawa, Chiba, which was hosted by the Revd Barnabas Ohno. Jonathan played for the service and introduced English organ music, which was enjoyed and appreciated by the organist and the congregation.
the Revd Ohno
< Visit to the Organ Department of Tokyo University of the Arts (Geidai) >
On 10th April, Prof Hiroe, Head of Organ at Tokyo Geidai hosted the special lecture & performance by Jonathan Gregory. His special lecture concert was called ’16th century to modern day organ music from the UK – England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland’. The lecture concert was much appreciated by the students of 1st year to PhD at the department.
After the Introduction by Prof Hiroe, the Special Lecture was delivered, assisted by Dr Sano, who interpreted the lecture. The first part lecture was delivered in the organ classroom, where there were three Baroque and early organs to demonstrate the music of various composers, including Byrd, Tomkins, Purcell, Jeremiah Clarke, John Stanley, William Boyce, Samuel Wesley, Felix Mendelssohn, Charles V Stanford, Walford Davies. The second part was delivered by playing the Romantic and modern organ music, including Elgar, Vaughan Williams, Walton, Howells, Leighton, Mathias, C.S Lang, Preston, Arthur Bliss and Jonathan Gregory.
At the visit to Toho Gakuen College of Music, Jonathan Gregory was met by the President, Prof Tatsumi. UK-Japan Music Society has supported and hosted a number of Toho Gakuen students in their concerts over the years. It was followed by a tour of Toho Gakuen Munetsugu Hall by Mr Warabino.
UK-Japan Music Society’s 30th Anniversary was marked by the UK-Japan Choir reunion lunch and presentation in Tokyo, for which members gathered from all over Japan.
Jonathan Gregory then gave a charity concert for Noto Peninsula Earthquake sufferers relief fund at St Anselm Catholic Church in Meguro, Tokyo on 11th April. After that touring in Japan, firstly to St Mary’s Church, Toyama, Kanazawa, and a school in Hiroshima, followed by a visit to the Peace Park, Genbaku Museum and the Anglican Church of Resurrection in Hiroshima, where the Revd Nagano met them.
The last concert was held at SDA Centre Church in Osaka when the audience enjoyed the announcements and the performance.
UK-Japan Music Society’s Music Visit to Japan completed with talks of future collaboration and links, while cherry blossoms were in full in Tokyo, Toyama and Kanazawa. We would like to thank everyone and organisation who hosted our visit and made this Japan Music Visit a very rewarding visit, where new exciting links were formed and existing links were strengthened through the power of music as well as people-to-people relationships. Our particular thanks to Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation for enabling such travels to happen. The UK-Japan Music Society and UK-Japan Choir were founded in 1992, as a result of Japan Festival 1991, when the Embassy of Japan in UK and Ms Ochi played a vital role to support it.
J.S. Bach’s St John Passion was performed
on Palm Sunday at Barnet Church
The UK-Japan Music Society presented J.S. Bach’s masterpiece St John Passion on Palm Sunday, 24th March 2024, hosted by St John the Baptist Church in Chipping Barnet. The UK-Japan Choir, joined by members of three church choirs – St John the Baptist Church, St Mary’s Monken Hadley, St Mark’s Barnet Vale, with the professional orchestra, young international soloists, gave the powerful and moving Bach’s St John Passion conducted by Jonathan Gregory. The performance was supported by the Embassy of Japan and our sponsors. We thank Fr Samuel Rossiter-Peters, Team Vicar of St John the Baptist Church, whose vision and dedication to the endeavour made this performance possible in Barnet, north London.
The UK-Japan Choir with some members of three church choirs and the UK-Japan Orchestra
The young professional soloists
The performance was a collaboration and an outreach in Barnet. The distinguished young international soloists joined the professional and well reputed UK-Japan Orchestra, and the reputed UK-Japan Choir with members of three church choirs, delivered an outstanding performance to a full house, conducted by Jonathan Gregory. The music by J.S. Bach included four congregational chorale singing, and the packed audience was seen to be singing their heart out, having given a rehearsal before the performance.
It was a great honour to welcome Minister Okazaki, Ms Shimokawa, Miss Morimoto from the Embassy of Japan, as well as Mr Kato, Mr & Mrs Ban and family from Itochu Europe, our special patron sponsor, and our sponsors, Mr Kurita, Mr & Dr Hinkel from Mitsubishi Electric, Mr Davies from Yamaha Music London, and our supporters Mr & Mrs Rigby from Westminster Council, Mr Kurose from Sankei Shimbun were with us, with personnel from SOAS, JETAA, Nippon Club, Kato Media and others. It was a privilege to welcome the Deputy Lieutenant of Barnet, Mr & Mrs Russell and former Mayor of Barnet, Councillor Sargeant, as well as local Councillors, Headmaster, Headmistress, others from local schools who attended the performance.
We would like to thank everyone who made the concert a great success: the choirs, friends, volunteers and helpers from all the three churches, talented musicians, our valued sponsors and our wonderful audience. We all felt it was truly a memorable evening for all.
The Embassy of Japan presented 14th Green Park Youth Concert on 15th March 2024, when the Ambassador & Madame Hayashi hosted the concert played by Miss Kumi Shimizu, a talented young Japanese violinist.
Kumi has been associated with the UK-Japan Music Society since her Post Graduate days at Tokyo University of the Arts in Tokyo, then she studied at the Royal Academy of Music in London, and now she holds a position of Associate Concert Mistress with the Royal Danish Orchestra.
Kumi was accompanied by Michael Dussek, who is a distinguished pianist and was the Royal Academy of Music’s Head of Piano Accompaniment for over 34 years. She performed music from Baroque to contemporary and it included works by the late AKUTAGAWA Yasushi as well as Mozart, R.Strauss and a Dutch composer, N.V. Bentzon. This concert was sponsored by Yamaha Music London.
[Note] Kumi played J.S. Bach’s unaccompanied Chaconne Partita no.2 at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle at our 30th Anniversary Summer Concert, which was a collaboration with St George’s Chapel, in July 2022. Her music resonated magnificently in the solemn and expansive Chapel.
J.S. Bach’s St John Passion on Palm Sunday
On Sunday 24th March 2024 at 5:30 pm at St John’s Baptist Church High Barnet
The UK-Japan Music Society is presenting J. S. Bach’s St John Passion on Palm Sunday 24th March 2024 at 5.30 pm, which is hosted by St John the Baptist Church in High Barnet. The UK-Japan Choir with members of the Church Choirs of St John’s the Baptist, Barnet, St Mary’s, Monken Hadley and St Mark’s, Barnet Vale are joined by international soloists and professional orchestra, conducted by Jonathan Gregory. It is supported by the Embassy of Japan and following sponsors; Itochu Europe Plc, Mitsubishi Electric Europe, Yamaha Music Europe, Yamaha Music London and Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation.
日英音楽協会は、３月２４日（日）午後５時半から、ハイバーネットにあるセントジョンズ・バプティスト教会と共催で、バッハの大作「ヨハネ受難曲」を演奏する予定です。定評ある日英合唱団には、セントジョンズ教会、モンケンのセントメアリー教会、バーネットヴェイルのセントマーク教会の聖歌隊のメンバー達が合流し、ジョナサン・グレゴリー指揮の下、国際的な活動をしている若手プロの歌手達のソリストを迎え、プロ・オーケストラの伴奏で演奏します。このコンサートは、在英国日本国大使館のご後援をいただいているほか、パトロンスポンサーの伊藤忠欧州会社、スポンサーの三菱電機欧州会社、ヤマハ・ミュージック・ヨーロッパおよびヤマハ・ミュージック・ロンドンとグレイトブリテン笹川財団のサポートをいただいています。
It is a dramatic retelling of the Passion story in music and song, with words from St John’s epistle and composed by J.S. Bach. The concert starts at 5:30 pm on Sunday 24th March, and please use the QR cord to purchase tickets or St John’s Baptist Church has some paper tickets too. We look forward to welcoming you to the concert. Please see the flyers about performers and more details of the concert.
「ヨハネ受難曲」は、ヨハネによる福音書のテキストから、イエス様のドラマティックな受難のストーリーにバッハが作曲した作品です。コンサートは、３月２４日（日）午後５時半に開演します。以下のチラシのQRコードを使ってデジタルチケットを購入してください。或いは、セントジョンズ教会には、紙のチケットを置いています。セントマーク教会も紙のチケットを注文できます。日英合唱団のメンバーからも紙のチケット購入可能です。イースター前聖週の主日に「ヨハネ受難曲」を聴くことは、受苦日に向けて心の準備をする上で大きな感動をよぶことでしょう。皆様をコンサートでお迎えすることを楽しみにしています。チラシ（裏）にある演奏者名他、ご覧ください。当日、小学生以下の小さいお子さんは入場できませんので、ご注意ください。（演奏終了時間は、午後８時過ぎを予定しています。）
Short Introduction to Soloists for St John Passion Performance
Jonathan Gregory Conductor
Jonathan Gregory is a Cathedral Organist emeritus of Belfast and Leicester, Founder & Music Director of UK-Japan Music Society and UK-Japan Choir & Consort. He studied at Royal Academy of Music and Clare College, Cambridge where he was Organ Scholar. He conducted many choral and orchestral works throughout UK and Ireland, broadcast on BBC Radio 3 and released CDs. He gave organ recitals in UK, Europe, Japan and Korea. He brings people together through music from UK, Europe and Japan, UK-Japan Choir with members of three Church Choirs at this special Bach Concert at St John the Baptist Church, Barnet, London. He was given the distinguished honour of Order of Rising Sun by His Imperial Majesty the Emperor of Japan in 2011.
Miku Yasukawa Soprano
Miku Yasukawa studied at Tokyo University of the Arts before moving to the U.K. to study in Guildhall School Artist Diploma course, where she was a finalist for the Gold Medal 2023.
Miku sang Ravel Shéhérazade under the baton of Jonathan Nott with the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra to critical acclaim. Other recent highlights are performing the role of Norina in Don Pasquale with Hurn Court Opera, Schubert Mass No.5 in A flat major and Brahms German Requiem with Bach Collegium Japan under the baton of Masaaki Suzuki, Brahms German Requiem with Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Charles Stewart.
Future engagement include Zemlinsky Lyrische Symphonie with Orchestra Ensemble Kanazawa under Masaaki Suzuki in May 2024.
Oscar Golden-Lee Evangelist
Born in London, Oscar’s choral education began during his final year at school, ultimately leading to a degree in Music at Canterbury Christ Church University. After graduating in 2016, Oscar sang as a Choral Scholar at both Wells and Lincoln cathedrals whilst also singing on the prestigious Genesis Sixteen programme.
Oscar is a proud regular member of the choir of St Peter’s Church, Eaton Square and the renowned choral ensemble The Sixteen. He also sings tenor with acclaimed a cappella group Apollo5 and enjoys their busy schedule of concerts, recordings, and education projects around the world. Outside of Apollo5, Oscar also performs with The Tallis Scholars, Tenebrae, Early Opera Company, OAE, and The Netherlands Kamerkoor. Solo highlights have been singing the role of Evangelist with Amici Voices for their recent Bach Passion series, European Tour of Rossini’s Petite Messe Solenelle with The Netherlands Kamerkoor and a newly commissioned Song Cycle premiered in July 2023.
Outside of singing, Oscar is a keen road cyclist, runner, cook and transport enthusiast.
Will Prior Countertenor
Will Prior graduated with a First-class degree in Music from Magdalen College, Oxford in 2021: during which, he held an Academical Clerkship with the college choir. In the year after graduating, he worked as a graduate assistant at Magdalen College School, after which, he was a Lay Clerk at Christ Church Cathedral from September 2022-23. Will is now based in London as a freelance singer and in September 2024, will be commencing a Masters in vocal studies at the Royal College of Music, with a full scholarship.
During his time as an undergraduate, Will learned singing with Carys Lane and Billy Purefoy as well as singing with a number of other Oxford-based groups: from classical consorts such as Ensemble Nova and The Delius Singers, to vocal Jazz group ‘The Oxford Gargoyles’ which he co-directed in his final year of studies. Since graduating, Will has sung with a variety of groups such as Selene, a recently-founded eight-voice consort, The Oxford Bach Soloists, The Beaufort singers, and the Gesualdo Six; last year, he was a Voces8 scholar. As a soloist he has given a number of recitals and appeared as alto soloist in J.S. Bach’s St John and St Matthew passions as well as Handel’s Messiah. In March 2023, Will also sang Vivaldi’s Stabat Mater in Corfu, in conjunction with The Ionian University. Will now studies singing with Veronica Vesey-Campbell.
Thomas Kelly Tenor
Thomas Kelly sang as a full time member in Stile Antico four years and was a lay clerk at New College Oxford after graduating from the University of Manchester. He completed the Master of Music Degree at the Royal Academy of Music in 2020. Thomas performed a year long (20+ concerts) of St Matthew Passion with John Eliot Gardiner and Monteverdi Choir in 2016, repeating it in 2023 with Solomon’s Knot.
He has an extensive career in church, choral, oratorio/solo and as an opera singer as well as a recording artist, ranging from Gabrieli Consort, BBC Singers, Eric Whitaker Singers, The Sixteen, Marian Consort, Academy of Ancient Music, Dunedin Consort, and he undertook varieties of oratorios and opera productions to date.
James Geidt Bass
James Geidt is a recent graduate of the Opera Course at the Royal Academy of Music, having previously been a Choral Scholar in the choir at New College, Oxford.
As a student at the Royal Academy of Music, James was a soloist for the RAM/Kohn Foundation Bach Cantata Series, was a finalist in the Richard Lewis/Jean Shanks award and also won the Joan Chissell Schumann Lieder Competition. James was an Opera Prelude Young Artist in 2023.
Operatic roles to date include the Lovec in Dvořák’s Rusalka for Garsington Opera and the Edinburgh International Festival, Gaspar in Donizetti’s Rita for Opera South, The Sorceress in Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas for the Vache Baroque Festival, Papagenoin Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte, Le Comtein Massenet’s Chérubin, Forester in Janacek’s The Cunning Little Vixen, L’horloge Comtoise and Le Chat in Ravel’s L’enfant et les sortilèges and Cadmus in Handel’s Semele all for Royal Academy Opera. In 2024, James returns to Garsington Opera as an Alvarez Young Artist to cover Demetrius in Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Momus in Rameau’s Platée.
In concert, James has appeared at the Birmingham Symphony Hall, St John’s Smith Square, Palau de la Música Catalana, Cadogan Hall and the Three Choirs Festival. Recent and future performances include the role of Peter in Elgar’s The Apostles at the Three Choirs Festival, Elijah for Epsom Choral Society, Brahms’ Ein Deutsches Requiem in Hampstead Parish Church and Bach’s St John Passion for the Swansea Philharmonic Choir.
Charlie Morris Pilate
Baritone Charlie Morris is a music graduate from the University of Bristol and is Artistic Director and co-founder of award-winning touring opera company, Opera in a Box. Charlie has over fifteen years experience of professional opera and oratorio singing, and has produced eighteen fully-staged, operatic productions. Highlight operatic roles have included Scarpia (Tosca), Marcello (La bohème), Escamillo (Carmen), Salieri (Mozart & Salieri) and Papageno (The Magic Flute), performing with Oxford Opera, Bath Opera, Bristol Opera, Opera in a Box, Swindon Opera Collective and Tessitoura. Alongside a busy singing portfolio in the South-West, Charlie is also a Secondary Teacher of Music at Bristol Grammar School and a Saturday morning broadcaster on the BCfm Radio ‘Saturday Edition’; the station’s headline theatre, music, arts, and culture show for Bristol.
An advocate for accessibility into classical music, opera, and performance, Charlie is heavily involved in music outreach in Bristol, coordinating large-scale, collaborative performance opportunities and music education across schools in the South West. Charlie was a pupil at Monken Hadley Church Primary School, a school where music and singing was embedded within school life. Through the school’s relationship with the church, this nurtured a lifelong love of music, and Charlie is thrilled to be a part of the church’s St John Passion this evening.
Augustus Perkins-Ray Jesus
British bass Augustus Perkins Ray studied History of Art at the University of Cambridge, and sang in the Choir of St John’s College for four years under Andrew Nethsingha. He took his master’s degree at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama in London, singing regularly in opera and oratorio, and giving numerous recitals. Augustus currently sings with a cappella ensemble Apollo5, with which he has recorded albums for Voces8 Records, performed on BBC Radio 3 and toured across the UK (including debuts at Wigmore Hall and Cadogan Hall in London), Europe and the USA. He is a founding member of the experimental vocal collective Shards, and has performed several shows at London’s Barbican Hall with the group. Augustus has worked with other UK-based ensembles including echo, SANSARA and the UK-Japan Choir, and he is thrilled to be back to sing with the Choir after a memorable tour to Japan in 2017. He currently resides between London and Barcelona, where he’s able to enjoy some downtime in the sun!
New Spring’s greetings from the UK-Japan Music Society. This is the year of the Dragon, and we wish you all happiness, good health, fulfillment, hope and peace in 2024.
Members of UK-Japan Choir sang Christmas Carols at Grosvenor Chapel at their Community Carol Service on 12th December, and at St Mary’s Monken Hadley at their Nine Lessons and Carols Service on 17th December and completed the year’s activities. We would like to thank all our sponsors & supporters, as well as family & friends for their invaluable support throughout the year. We wish you a good and peaceful festive season. Thank you for all your support throughout 2023.
A Special Occasion for the UK-Japan Choir at the Royal Exchange
UK-Japan Choir was invited to sing at a special occasion – unveiling of Michelangelo’s unfinished version of The Risen Christ at the Royal Exchange in the City on 18th November. Another Italian sculptor would spend the next year finishing it and the 18th November was the introduction of the project and the marble was taken from the same quarry as Michelangelo had used 500 years ago. The organisers had an orchestra and an opera singer from the Milan Opera House, with over three hundreds guests to witness the occasion. The UK-Japan Choir lined up at the entrance to the historic building, and welcomed the guests to the special evening, singing Faure Requiem and Japanese songs. Many influencers and other guests who attended appreciated the Choir singing and posted on their social media. The descendant of the original Giustiniani family who commissioned Michelangelo the work, and other distinguished guests were present. The world renowned Italian sculptor, Damian Pablo Christi unveiled the sculpture at the end of the evening.
UK-Japan Music Society’s 30th Anniversary Dinner was held at Oxford & Cambridge Club on 2nd November
The UK-Japan Music Society marked 30th Anniversary at a dinner held at Oxford & Cambridge Club, Pall Mall, London, on 2nd November. It was an honour to welcome Minister Okazaki from the Embassy of Japan as the Guest of Honour on the occasion, with Dr Takechi, a composer and the wife of Minister Plenipotentiary Mr Matsuura and Miss Morimoto from the Cultural Section. It was an honour to welcome the Patron Sponsor, Mr Kato, CEO from Itochu Europe, with Mr Nishimura and Mr Ban; Sponsors – Mr & Dr Hinkel from Mitsubishi Electric Europe, Mr & Mrs McEnally, ex-CEO from Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation, Mr Davies from Yamaha Music London and Mr Terashima from Yamaha Music Europe, and Ms Hudson from Fuji Sankei Communications represented the media; other distinguished guests, supporters, members of the Choir, spouses and friends were present.
日英音楽協会は、11月２日（木）ロンドンのオックスフォード＆ケンブリッジ・クラブで、創設30周年記念夕食会を開催いたしました。貴賓として、在英国日本国大使館から岡崎公使、作曲家の武智全権公使夫人、広報文化班の森本様のご臨席を賜りました。パトロン・スポンサーの伊藤忠欧州会社から、CEOの加藤様、西村様、伴様のご臨席、スポンサー各社から三菱電機欧州会社のヒンケル様ご夫妻、グレートブリテン笹川財団元CEOのマクナリーご夫妻様、ヤマハミュージック・ロンドンからデイビース様、ヤマハミュージック・ヨーロッパの寺島様、報道関係ではフジサンケイコミュニケーションズのハドソン様がご臨席くださいました。この他、各層のゲストとサポーターの皆様、日英合唱団メンバーとパートナーおよびフレンズが一同に会して、心温まる素晴らしい夕食会となりました。ご来賓いただきました皆様、日英音楽協会および日英合唱団のメンバーとファミリーの皆様、本当にありがとうございました。改めて、心から御礼申し上げます。
After the welcome reception at the Drawing Room, the dinner was served in the Princess Marie Louise Room. Julian Gregory, who is Assistant Music Director of the Music Society and a member of Oxford & Cambridge Club welcomed everyone at the beginning, which was followed by Latin Grace said by Jonathan Gregory, Music Director. After the dinner, the representatives of the main guests made speeches, all of which were most warm and supportive of the Music Society, everybody felt it was the nicest and warmest formal dinner. Jonathan Gregory concluded by thanking the Embassy of Japan and the sponsors’ continued support without which the Music Society could not have continued its mission of promoting goodwill, friendship and mutual understanding of Japan and UK through music and its activities. The UK-Japan Music Society wish to thank all the sponsors past and present, all singers, musicians and the audiences and families to the support given to them in the 30 years.
オックスフォード＆ケンブリッジ・クラブが誇るエレガントな Drawing Room が歓迎レセプションの会場でございました。この後、夕食会の会場に移動、同クラブのメンバーであるジュリアン・グレゴリー（日英音楽協会副音楽監督）が歓迎の辞を述べた後、ジョナサン・グレゴリー（日英音楽協会創始者兼音楽監督）がオックスフォード大学とケンブリッジ大学の伝統にもとづいてラテン語で「食前の感謝の祈り」を捧げました。食後、岡崎公使をはじめとして、各スポンサーの代表諸氏によるスピーチを賜りました。スピーチでは、それぞれの機関と日英音楽協会との関係や日英音楽交流の意義などに触れられることが多々ありましたが、ユーモア溢れる温かい励ましのスピーチに皆聞き入り、感動のシーンでございました。最後にジョナサン・グレゴリーの感謝のスピーチを持ちまして夕食会は終了いたしました。３０年間もの長い期間、日英音楽協会を支えて来てくださいました在英国日本国大使館、伊藤忠欧州会社への特別の感謝の意、そして追随するスポンサー各社・各機関、サポーター各位、合唱団メンバーとファミリー、音楽家達の皆様に、深く御礼申し上げます。今後もどうぞ宜しくお願い申し上げます。
Yamaha Brand Store Launch Event on 12th October
UK-Japan Music Society was invited to perform at Yamaha Brand Store Launch
Event at the historic Yamaha Music London Store, Soho, London on 12th October.
A small group of UK-Japan Choir sang the Japanese national anthem, two English madrigals and Japanese songs of four seasons, also a Schubert’s song sung by Oliver Sheffield, conducted and accompanied by
Jonathan Gregory, to the packed guests of musicians, media and people from all walks of life in the iconic Piano Hall at Yamaha Music London Store. Minister Okazaki from the Embassy of Japan congratulated Yamaha for this new Launch and thanked the role they play in Japan, UK and globally, and the importance of music in today’s world, more so than ever. Mr Mark Rolfe from Yamaha Music Europe and Mr Stephen Davies from Yamaha Music London welcomed all the guests, who had an opportunity to see the most impressive display of all instruments in the newly refurbished store. Many genres of music was introduced and played by musicians during the evening, and it concluded with Mr Jools Holland’s brilliant wit and performance. We thank Yamaha Music London and Yamaha Music Europe for the wonderful evening.
ヤマハブランドストアリニューアル記念イベント
日英音楽協会は、ロンドン市ソーホー地区にあるヤマハミュージックロンドン・ストアの象徴的ピアノホールで、「ヤマハブランドストアリニューアル記念イベント」に出席し、英国の各音楽界、メディア、他多様な顔ぶれのゲストの見守る中、小編成の日英合唱団はジョナサン・グレゴリー指揮・伴奏の下、英国のマドリガル二曲、日本の四季の歌、日本国国歌を歌った他、日英コンソートのオリバー・シェフィールド（テノール）は、シューベルトの作品を歌いました。その前に、在英国日本国大使館から岡崎公使が祝辞を述べられました。岡崎公使は、ヤマハのヤマハブランドストアリニューアルにお祝いの言葉を述べた後、ヤマハが日本と英国他グローバルに人類に貢献していることに感謝の意を表し、音楽が人間にもたらす恩恵と重要さを語り、世界で音楽が如何に必要とされているかを強調されました。当日、ヤマハミュージックヨーロッパのマーク・ロルフ氏とヤマハミュージックロンドンのスティーブン・デイビース氏が多くのゲストをお出迎えされましたが、ゲストはレセプションの他、新しい店内に並ぶ多様な楽器類を視察したり、多くのミュージシャン達が多様なジャンルの音楽を演奏し、最後にテレビやラジオでお馴染みのジュールス・ホランド氏のウイットに富んだストーリーと素晴らしい演奏に聴き惚れました。このように素晴らしいオープニングイベントにお招きくださったヤマハミュージックロンドンに感謝申し上げます。今後益々のご発展を心からお祈り申し上げます。
Organ Recital at Southwark Cathedral
Jonathan Gregory, the founder and Music Director of the UK-Japan Music Society, gave a lunchtime Organ Recital at Southwark Cathedral on Monday 25th September. He played music by JS Bach, William Byrd, William Boyce, Martin How, William Mathias and J Gregory. It was a lovely occasion attended by many of Jonathan’s friends and tourists on a sunny day. Thank you for all who came to the recital.
日英音楽協会創設者兼音楽監督のジョナサン・グレゴリーは、９月２５日（月）にロンドン南部に位置するサザーク大聖堂でランチタイムオルガンリサイタルの演奏をしました。選曲は、JSバッハ、ウイリアム・バード、ウイリアム・ボイス、マーティン・ハウ、ウイリアム・マタイアス、および自作の作品でした。当日は、好天に恵まれて、ジョナサンの多数の友人・知人と周辺の旅行者がオルガン・リサイタルに来てくれました。ご来場くださいました皆様に深く感謝申し上げます。
Southwark Cathedral is located next to London Bridge Station, south of the River Thames, and just a few minutes walk from the station. Please see Planning Your Journey page of the Cathedral’s website for the details – https://cathedral.southwark.anglican.org/visiting/planning-your-journey/ Southwark Cathedral, London Bridge, London SE1 9DA
Some past organ recital and voluntary playing photos:
Summer Concert at Yamaha Piano Hall
Thank you for coming to Yamaha Piano Hall, and we had a lovely summer concert.
The UK-Japan Music Society, in collaboration with Yamaha Music London, presented a Summer Concert at the iconic Yamaha Piano Hall in Soho, Central London, at 6 pm on Saturday 17th June. It gave a rare opportunity to attend a concert at the beautiful Yamaha Piano Hall.
日英音楽協会は、６月１７日（土）午後６時からヤマハ・ミュージック・ロンドンとコラボで、同社二階のヤマハ・ピアノホールで「日英サマーコンサート」を開催しました。この歴史的建物にある美しいホールで稀に開催されるコンサートにお越しくださった皆様、本当にありがとうございました。お陰様で素晴らしいサマーコンサートを皆様と共有できました。
We were honoured to welcome Minister Okazaki from the Embassy of Japan to our Summer Concert, which was held in collaboration with Yamaha Music London, as well as our Patron Sponsors – Mr & Mrs Ban and family, Mr Yokota, Mr Budge, Ms Proca from Itochu Europe, Mr & Mrs Hinkel, Mr Suganuma & Mr Hirano from Mitsubishi Electric Europe, Ms White from Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation. Mr Davies of Yamaha Music London welcomed us and all the guests at the beginning of the concert. We were pleased to welcome our guests including Mr Rigby from Westminster Council, Mrs Shimokawa and Ms Morimoto from the Embassy of Japan, Ms Hudson from Fuji Sankei Communications, Mrs Jones from SOAS, Mr Ito from Takara Shuzo Int’l, Ms Konotsune from Nippon Club, friends from Nichi-Ei Otomodachi Kai, other supporters, family and friends.
ヤマハ・ミュージック・ロンドンの美しいピアノホールの会場には、在英国日本国大使館から岡崎公使がご臨席くださったほか、パトロン・スポンサーの伊藤忠欧州会社の伴ご夫妻様とファミリー、三菱電機欧州会社のヒンケルご夫妻様、菅沼様、平野様、グレートブリテン笹川財団のホワイト様、フジサンケイ・コミュニケーションズのハドソン様、ウエストミンスター地区議会のリグビー様、日本大使館文化広報センターの下川様と森本様、SOAS のジョーンズ先生、宝酒造の伊東様、日本クラブの此常様、日英お友達会のフレンズ、および多くのサポーターの皆様、合唱団のファミリー、一般のお客様にお越しいただきましてサマーコンサートをお楽しみいただきました。ご来場くださいました皆様に改めてお礼申し上げます。そして、ヤマハ・ミュージック・ロンドンのご厚意で、来場者全員がレセプションにご招待いただきましたことに、心から感謝申し上げます。夏の夕べの音楽の後のレセプションをご用意くださいましたデイビース様とスタッフの皆様、心温まるおもてなしを賜りまして本当にありがとうございました。
The UK-Japan Choir was directed by Jonathan Gregory, and the Choir sang Handel’s Coronation Anthem, celebrating the Coronation of King Charles III; Vaughan Williams, madrigals, Japanese songs medley of four seasons, composed by Okano, Narita, Terashima. Newly composed ‘Two Great Green Islands Nations‘ (words by Junko Ochi, music by Jonathan Gregory) was performed in open public for the first time. This song was written to mark 30th anniversary of the UK-Japan Music Society and UK-Japan Choir since its foundation in 1992, and it was first performed at Spring Concert held at the Embassy of Japan in London on 30th March this year, to the invited guests.
日英合唱団は、ジョナサン・グレゴリーの指揮の下、５月に行われたチャールズ国王の戴冠式を祝してヘンデルのコロネーション・アンセムを歌った他、ヴォーン・ウイリアムズ、マドリガル、日本の四季の歌のメドレー、そして、日英音楽協会創設３０周年を記念して作曲された新作「緑なす二つの島国」（越智淳子 作詞、ジョナサン・グレゴリー 作曲）をはじめて一般公開で演奏いたしました。この作品は、今年３月３０日（木）在英国日本大使館で開催されたスプリング・コンサートで世界初演されました。
**Photos are by Luke Hodgkins www.lukehphoto.co.uk
Yamaha Piano Hall is located on the second floor of Yamaha Music London. https://www.yamahamusiclondon.com/More/Planning-your-visit/
Our Summer Concert is over and we would like to thank you for coming to Yamaha Piano Hall.
Stop the press – Jonathan Gregory’s Organ Recital in Boston, USA
Jonathan Gregory, FRCO, gave an organ recital on the historic organ at the Church of the Advent in Boston on Sunday 21st May, and introduced a number of English composers whose music was linked to the Coronations over the centuries in UK, and concluded by playing Carillion de Westminster, which was composed by Louis Vierne.
英国王立オルガニスト院フェローのジョナサン・グレゴリーは、５月２１日（日）アメリカ、ボストンのアドベント教会の歴史的なパイプオルガンでオルガン・リサイタルの演奏を行いました。ジョナサンは、主に英国人作曲家の作品を手掛け、特に英国が何世紀にも渡り戴冠式で演奏されてきた作品と戴冠とゆかりのある作品を選び、締めくくりとしてフランス人、ルイ・ヴィエーン作曲の「ウエストミンスターの鐘」を演奏しました。
Canon Alistair Macdonald-Radcliff introduced the organ recital, and Jonathan was delighted to be able to play the fine instrument to the appreciative audience.
リサイタルでは、キャノン・アリステア・マクドナルド＝ラドクリフ司祭がオルガン・リサイタルと演奏者を紹介してくださいました。ジョナサンは、歴史的で優れたパイプオルガンを演奏させていただき、オルガン音楽を堪能する聴衆に来ていただいたことを感謝いたしました。
The UK-Japan Music Society was conferred the Ambassador’s Commendation.
Ambassador HAYASHI Hajime awarded the Ambassador’s Commendation to the UK-Japan Music Society at the Embassy of Japan on 30th March 2023. Jonathan Gregory, the Founder and Music Director since its foundation in September 1992 received the Award on behalf of the Music Society.
日英音楽協会は令和５年３月３０日（木）に在英国日本国大使館で、林肇大使より「在外公館長賞」を受賞いたしました。１９９２年創設の同協会を代表して、創始者兼音楽監督を務めるジョナサン・グレゴリーが謹んで表彰状を受け取りました。
and Mr & Mrs Julian Gregory
Ambassador Hayashi praised that the UK-Japan Music Society had introduced Japanese music and artists to the British people for 30 years and promoted musical exchange between the UK and Japan through choirs involving British and Japanese people, and paid tribute to the enormous contribution of all involved, including sponsors and supporters as well as the society’s members.
林大使は受賞式典のスピーチで、日英音楽協会が３０年間に渡り日本の音楽や音楽家達を英国でご紹介してきたこと、また日英合唱団では日英の人々が一体となって音楽交流を続けて来たことを讃えられました。そして、同協会に多大な支援とサポートを提供してくださっているスポンサー各社とサポーター各位、日英音楽協会のメンバーに敬意を表されました。
In response, Mr Jonathan Gregory said that he was honoured to receive the commendation and expressed his gratitude to society members and sponsors for their support. He has also reflected that he is most indebted to the Japanese Embassy’s continuous support from the beginning till today.
林大使のご挨拶の返礼として、ジョナサン・グレゴリーは大変名誉な受賞と、日英音楽協会のメンバー達とスポンサー各社のサポートに深い感謝の意を述べました。そして、当初から今日に至るまで在英国日本国大使館の多大なサポートを賜りましたことに謝意を表しました。
The Ceremony was followed by a concert given by the UK-Japan Music Society, in the presence of Ambassador & Madame Hayashi, Minister & Dr Matsuura, Minister Okazaki, other diplomats, featuring the UK-Japan Choir, soloists – soprano, tenor and shakuhachi* player. Members of the UK-Japan Choir sang the well known pieces from English Madrigals, part songs to modern day composition, while Miss Junko Ochi, who was cultural attache in London 30 years ago, is also a poet, and she wrote the text to commemorate 30th Anniversary since the foundation, to which Jonathan Gregory composed. ‘The two great green island nations’ was well liked and moved the audience greatly. *shakuhashi is Japanese bamboo flute
受賞式に続き演奏されたコンサートでは、小編成の日英合唱団とソリストの演奏で、林大使ご夫妻、松浦全権公使ご夫妻、岡崎公使、他多くのゲストの方々へ、日英両国の時代を経て親しまれている名作をご紹介しました。創設３０周年を記念する書下ろし「二つの偉大な緑の島国」の作詞は、３０年前ロンドンで文化担当官をしていらした越智淳子氏によるもので、ジョナサン・グレゴリーが作曲し今回初披露いたしました。
Concert Programme
There was a reception after the concert. We are very grateful to the Embassy of Japan for the memorable occasion, and all the guests who attended the evening; sponsors – Ms Harada and Mrs Smith from Itochu Europe, Mr Kurita, Mr Suganuma and Mr Hirano from Mitsubishi Electric, Mr & Mrs Rolfe from Yamaha Music Europe, Mr Davies from Yamaha Music London, Mr Steele from Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation; supporters – Mr Kato from Kato Media, Ms Meehan from Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation, Mr & Mrs Tateishi and Ms Kunishima from London Rikkyo Kai, Mr & Mrs Ito from Takara Shuzo Int’l, friends from Otomodachi Kai, The Revd Canon John and Mrs Kafwanka, Ms Millican, The Revd Fr Tristan from St Marks Church, Barnet Vale, The Revd Adele Burgess from St Mary’s Monken Hadley Church, Dr Claire Parker; distinguished musicians, members of UK-Japan Choir and UK-Japan Consort, friends and families.
受賞式とコンサートに続いて、レセプションが開催されました。当日駆けつけてくださった多数のゲストに心からお礼申し上げます。スポンサーの伊藤忠欧州会社の原田様とスミス様、三菱電機の栗田社長様、菅沼様と平野様、ヤマハ・ミュージック・ヨーロッパのロルフ氏ご夫妻、ヤマハ・ミュージック・ロンドンのデイビース氏、笹川財団のスティール氏。サポーターのカトー・メディアの加藤氏、大和日英基金のミーハン女史、ロンドン立教会の立石ご夫妻と國島女史、宝酒造の伊東ご夫妻、日英おともだち会のフレンズ、カフワンカ司祭ご夫妻、ミリカン女史、セント・マークス教会のトリスタン司祭、モンケンハドリー教会のバージェス司祭、クレア・パーカー女史、音楽関係者の皆様、日英音楽協会のメンバー達、フレンズとご家族の面々が会場に詰め掛けてくださいました。ご来場くださいましたお一人お一人に心から感謝申し上げます。本当にありがとうございました。
For the evening, we would like to thank Minister Okazaki and his Cultural section personnel for the preparations and support. We all had a memorable evening.
この度の授賞式に際し、長期間に渡るご準備と多大なるご支援をいただいた岡崎公使、ならびに文化広報班の方々に改めて御礼申し上げます。お陰で日英合唱団にとって忘れられない晩となりました。
The Japanese Emperor’s Birthday Reception 2023
Victoria Meteyard, soprano and Leader of UK-Japan Consort, has been invited by the Embassy of Japan to sing national anthems of Japan and the United Kingdom at the Japanese Emperor’s Birthday Reception, in the presence of Ambassador and Madame Hayashi, former Prime Ministers and senior politicians, dignitaries and distinguished guests on 7th February at the Japan House in London.
in the presence of Ambassador and Madame Hayashi
日英音楽協会日英コンソート・リーダーのソプラノ、ビクトリア・メテヤードは、在英国日本国大使館からご依頼を受けて、2023年２月７日（火）にロンドンのジャパン・ハウスで開催された、天皇誕生日祝賀レセプションの式典で、林大使ご夫妻が見守る中、日本と英国の両国歌を独唱させていただきました。同レセプションには、英国の政治家、日英の貴賓とVIP、日英関係者が多数出席されました。このような重要な式典で大役を仰せつかりましたことは、非常に名誉なことでございました。独唱後多くの励ましの言葉をいただきまして、誠にありがとうございました。
New year’s greetings from the UK-Japan Music Society. This is the year of the Rabbit, and we wish you all happiness, good health, fulfillment, peace and hope in 2023.
Our Christmas Concerts in 2022
Christmas Concert Handel’s Messiah
The UK-Japan Music Society presented two performances of Handel’s Messiah in December 2022, as part of 30th Anniversary Special Programme. They were on Saturday 3rd at St John’s Wood Church, London, and on Sunday 4th at St Mary’s Church Monken Hadley in north London.
日英音楽協会は、創設３０周年記念プログラムの一環として、２０２２年１２月３日（土）と４日（日）に、クリスマス時に英国で最も人気のあるヘンデルの合唱大作「メサイア」を演奏しました。一回目は、ロンドン、セントジョンズウッド周辺と日英コニュニティーのクリスマスの風物詩となっているクリスマス・コンサートで、「メサイア」の公演、二回目は、アウトリーチ・コンサートで、モンケンハドレー周辺の北ロンドンおよびハートフォードシャー州の人々に「メサイア」をお届けしました。日英合唱団は、国際舞台で活躍している日英の若手プロのソリストを迎え、定評ある日英オーケストラが伴奏を務め、ジョナサン・グレゴリーの指揮の下演奏しました。
Messiah Concert flyer for St John’s Wood Church Concert. Please see below; https://www.stjohnswoodchurch.org.uk/location-contact
The UK-Japan Music Society has presented a Christmas Concert at St John’s Wood Church, London for 20 years, and we were delighted to welcome Minister Okazaki from the Embassy of Japan, who attended on behalf of Ambassador Hayashi, and Mr and Mrs Morita from Itochu Europe, Mr Suganuma and Mr Hirano from Mitsubishi Electric, Mr & Mrs McEnally, ex-Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation, Mr Davies from Yamaha Music London, and other distinguished guests to attend the concert. We were pleased to return to the church to present our 30th Anniversary Christmas Concert of Handel’s Messiah in December. It was significant that Riku Matsubara, tenor and Misaki Takahashi, soprano flew from Tokyo to join the British soloists, and it was a truly UK-Japan music collaboration.
日英音楽協会は、セントジョンズウッド教会で20年間ほど毎年クリスマス・コンサートを開催して参りました。クリスマス・コンサートでは、在英国日本国大使館の林大使の代理としてご臨席くださいました岡崎公使をお迎えして光栄でございました。そして、スポンサーを代表して、伊藤忠ヨーロッパ社の森田社長ご夫妻、三菱電機欧州会社の菅沼・平野両氏、元グレートブリテン笹川財団のマクナリー氏ご夫妻、ヤマハ・ミュージック・ロンドンのデイビス氏他のゲストにお越しいただきましたことに、心から感謝申し上げます。２０１９年クリスマス以来はじめて、日本から駆け付けてくれたソリスト、松原陸さん（テノール）と高橋美咲さん（ソプラノ）を交えて、英国のソリストと共に「メサイア」を演奏し、素晴らしい日英音楽コラボが実現できました。会場に詰め掛けてくださいました皆様に改めて御礼申し上げます。本当にありがとうございました。
The concert, which brings Japanese and British communities together, is always very much part of Christmas events in the area and central London. Messiah gave us a perfect start in Advent, as the Christmas story was told through music of orchestra, choruses, arias and recitatives. We would like to thank everyone who supported the concert.
UK-Japan Choir and Orchestra was conducted by Jonathan Gregory
Soloists:
Misaki Takahashi soprano, Christopher Mitchell counter-tenor,
Riku Matsubara tenor, Thomas Herring bass
This concert was supported by the Embassy of Japan and the following sponsors – Itochu Europe, Mitsubishi Electric Europe, Yamaha Music Europe and the Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation. It was part of UK-Japan Music Society’s 30th Anniversary events.
Messiah Concert at St Mary’s Virgin Monken Hadley Church
Sunday 4th December 2022 at 5 pm
https://www.monkenhadley.church/st-marys-church/contact-directory
Monken Hadley Choir, UK-Japan Choir & friends and UK-Japan Orchestra was conducted by Jonathan Gregory
Soloists:
Helena Moore soprano, Christopher Mitchell counter-tenor,
Riku Matsubara tenor, Thomas Herring bass
We were delighted to welcome the Minister Plenipotentiary, Mr & Dr Matsuura from the Embassy of Japan to this concert. The UK-Japan Choir was joined by the Monken Hadley Church Choir, and it was a collaboration of two choirs and friends. This was an outreach Concert of Messiah for north London and Hertfordshire, and it was in support of the Church House Restoration Fund for Monken Hadley Church.
日英音楽協会は、北ロンドンのモンケン教会で開催された第二回目の「メサイア」コンサートに、在英国日本国大使館から松浦全権公使ご夫妻をお迎えすることができて、大変光栄でございました。ここでは、日英合唱団とモンケン教会聖歌隊が合同で演奏し、素晴らしい日英コラボが実現しました。教会に詰めかけた聴衆の皆様は、通常北ロンドンでは聴けない「メサイア」全曲を、日英合唱団及び教会の聖歌隊、若手日英プロフェッショナル・ソリストと日英プロオーケストラによる演奏を堪能しました。北ロンドンでのアウトリーチ公演は周辺の人々に大きな喜びをもたらし、クリスマスに向けて素晴らしい準備をする機会となりました。
This concert was supported by the Embassy of Japan and the following sponsors – Itochu Europe, Mitsubishi Electric Europe, Yamaha Music Europe and the Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation. It was also supported by STATONS Estate Agents. It was part of UK-Japan Music Society’s 30th Anniversary events.
上記二つのコンサートを開催するにあたりまして、ご後援くださいました在英国日本国大使館と、特にパトロン・スポンサーになってくださいました伊藤忠ヨーロッパ社、三菱電機欧州会社、ヤマハ・ミュージック・ヨーロッパ社、及び、グレートブリテン笹川財団に、改めて御礼申し上げます。そして、広告をご掲載くださいました「菊」レストラン、宝酒造社、TopUp Learning, London、及び、Statons Estate Agent に感謝いたします。
Recent performances by UK-Japan Choir and Consort
Summer Concert at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle on Saturday 16 July 2022
UK-Japan Music Society presented 30th Anniversary Summer Concert, in collaboration with St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, on Saturday 16th July, with UK-Japan Choir and Consort with International young soloists. It was supported by the Embassy of Japan and Special Patronship of sponsors enabled this concert to take place. We are truly grateful for their invaluable support.
We had a memorable summer concert in the splendour of St George’s Chapel, welcomed by the Dean of Windsor, the Rt Revd David Conner, in the presence of the Japanese Ambassador and Madame Hayashi, our Special Patron sponsors and distinguished guests. Our family, friends and supporters came from all over UK, Germany, Denmark, Japan and Singapore and the general audience. We are grateful to all who attended our concert. Thank you.
日英音楽協会は、本年７月16日（土）午後６時45分に、ウインザー城セントジョージ礼拝堂と共催で、日英合唱団、日英コンソートと国際的に活躍している若手ソリストによって、創設30周年記念特別サマーコンサートを開催しました。このコンサートは、在英国日本大使館のご後援、及びスポンサー各社のご支援により実現できました。当日は、在英国日本大使ご夫妻及びスポンサー各社代表ご臨席の下、各界代表者、サポーターの皆様、一般のお客様をお迎えし、荘厳で美しいセントジョージ礼拝堂で、サマーコンサートを聴いていただきました。出演者、サポーターの中には、英国全土、ドイツ、デンマーク、日本とシンガポールから駆け付けてくださった方が多数いらっしゃいました。ご来場くださいました皆様、真にありがとうございました。心から御礼申し上げます。以下、お写真の抜粋をご覧ください。
**All photographs are subject to copyright of Gill Heppell 2022
Concert flyer front URL
Concert flyer back URL
Short Introduction to soloists for the Summer Concert
Jonathan Gregory conductor and organ
Jonathan Gregory is a Cathedral Organist emeritus of Belfast and Leicester, Founder & Music Director of UK-Japan Music Society and UK-Japan Choir & Consort. He studied at Royal Academy of Music and Clare College, Cambridge where he was Organ Scholar. He conducted many choral and orchestral works throughout UK and Ireland, broadcast on BBC Radio 3 and released CDs. He gave organ recitals in UK, Europe, Japan and Korea. He brings people together through music from UK, Europe and Japan at this special Summer Concert at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle. He was given the distinguished honour of Order of Rising Sun by His Imperial Majesty the Emperor of Japan in 2011.
Kuni Shimizu violin
Kumi Shimuzu is the associate leader in the Royal Danish Theatre Orchestra. She studied at Tokyo University of the Arts where she was given Doseikai Award at graduation, and at the Royal Academy of Music in London, where she obtained dipRAM at Graduation with Distinction. She won Harold Craxton Prize and Winifred Small Prize in London while playing as fellowship member with the London Symphony Orchestra. in 2021 she won prizes in the Ysaye International Violin Competition and Victor Tretyakov International Violin Competition. She is delighted to return to UK to play at the special Summer Concert at St George’s Chapel, Windsor.
Victoria Meteyard soprano
Victoria Meteyard sings with major international ensembles including Tenebrae, The Tallis Scholars, The Sixteen, Eric Whitacre Choir, The Marian Consort and is a member of the Chapel Choir of HM Tower of London. She was a chorister at St Mary’s Collegiate Church, Warwick and studied at Royal Holloway, University of London, as a Choral Scholar. Recent solo performances include Vivaldi Gloria, Faure Requiem, Handel Dixit Dominus, Monteverdi Vespers, Bach B Minor Mass, and Japanese songs. Victoria travels extensively with these ensembles to France, Germany, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Hungary and US. She has toured Japan twice with UK-Japan Music Society.
Julian Gregory tenor
Julian Gregory is a tenor member of The King’s Singers, who represent the gold standard in a cappella singing on the world’s greatest stages, who have won two Grammy Awards, an Emmy Award, and a place in Gramophone magazine’s inaugural Hall of Fame. He was Head Chorister at St John’s College, Cambridge, Music Scholar at Eton College, returned to St John’s College, Cambridge as a Choral Scholar, and studied Vocal Performance Masters Course at Royal Academy of Music. Julian tours around the world with the group giving 120 concerts annually. He is also the Assistant Director of the UK-Japan Music Society, which lies close to his heart with his half-Japanese heritage and tours in Japan regularly.
Ben Giddens organ
Ben Giddens is Associate Organist and Director of Music at St James’ Church, Sussex Gardens. He combines this with a portfolio of freelance work and performs regularly at The Guards’ Chapel and St Bride’s, Fleet Street. Ben has performed regularly on BBC Radio 3 and a series of live broadcasts from St Martin’s in the Fields. His past organist posts include St Martin in the Fields, St Bartholomew the Great, Magdalen College, Oxford, and organ scholarships were at Norwich Cathedral and St George’s Chapel, Windsor. He holds a First Class honours degree from the University of East Anglia.
Spring 2022 – Choral Evensong
The UK-Japan Choir sang Choral Evensong at St Mary’s the Virgin, Monken Hadley Church, in north London on Sunday 20th March 2022. https://www.monkenhadley.church/st-marys-church
Christmas 2021 – Christmas Carol Concert
The UK-Japan Choir and Consort performed Christmas Carol Concert at St John’s Wood Church on Saturday 4th December 2021. https://www.stjohnswoodchurch.org.uk/
Spring 2021 – Recording of John Rutter Requiem
Members of UK-Japan Choir and Consort recorded John Rutter Requiem in two different settings in March, Piano Hall, Yamaha London, and in May, St Marks Church, Barnet Vale, north London. www.yamahamusiclondon.com https://stmarksbarnet.weebly.com/
Christmas 2020 – Closed Christmas Concert due to the pandemic
Small number of UK-Japan Choir and Consort sang Christmas Concert at St John’s Wood Church, London on 5th December 2020, which was closed to the public.
Spring 2020 – Choral Evensong
Members of UK-Japan Choir and Consort sang Choral Evensong at St Stephen’s Church, Westminster in March 2020. https://sswsj.org
About Us
UK-Japan Music Society unites people from Japan and UK and beyond through music to promote friendship and understanding of cultures and peoples, and presents performances of Western and Japanese music at a very high standard.