Soma Children's Orchestra and Chorus

On August 12, 2018, members of Soma and Otsuchi Children's Orchestra played in “Sound! Harmony to the Restoration in OKINAWA Vol.3” concert held in Naha City, Okinawa Prefecture with members of Sendai Junior Orchestra (Miyagi) and Naha Junior Orchestra.

Board members of Ryukyu Philharmonic Orchestra (parent organization of Naha Junior Orchestra) who have strong connection with Tohoku, the region hit by the Great East Japan Earthquake 2011, started these concerts to encourage people in Tohoku from Okinawa. It was the third concert and the joint orchestra was formed with children from Iwate, Miyagi, Fukushima (these three prefectures belong to Tohoku region) and Okinawa prefecture.

Usually they play in separate places, so they could practice together only in a short period of time since members from Tohoku had arrived in Okinawa. They were nervous at first but were able to open up to each other while practicing repeatedly. In the concert, they played a total of 10 pieces, ranging from classical music to traditional music in Tohoku and Okinawa. On the same day, some members of Children's Orchestra in Tohoku also had another concert in their hometown, so they remained there. Members in Okinawa were thinking of other members in their hometown and wondering if they were also playing at that moment.

It was a valuable opportunity not only to play together but also to learn the history and culture of Okinawa. Okinawa consists of tropical islands with tragic history as a field of one of the bloodiest battles during WWII in the pacific. Three years have passed since the interaction began. And now they feel close to the area they are living in each other. In case of earthquakes or typhoons, they are anxious about the safety of each other. We hope that a wonderful interaction through music will last long. We would like to express our sincere thanks to everyone playing together and Mr. and Ms. Uehara of Ryukyu Philharmonic who prepare for such opportunity every year.

We also highly appreciate continuous support given by our global giving partenrs - thank you!

On April 5, 2018, members of Soma Children’s Orchestra held a mini-concert at the Italian Cultural Institute. “Italy” reminds us that the Cremona International Violin making School donated four violins and one viola to this orchestra. Furthermore, we have continuously received warm support from diplomats of the Embassy of Italy, Tokyo.

Giorgio Starace, the ambassador of Italy to Japan, greeted at the beginning of the concert. He told it was great pleasure to have a special opportunity like this. Even though many foreign people in Tokyo evacuated from Japan all at once soon after the Great East Japan Earthquake (2011), the Embassy of Italy kept its usual operation all the time. Since Italy is well known for earthquakes and has recovered from many disasters just as Japan, they have a strong sympathy for Japan. Mr. Starace gave each member of the orchestra a “friendship badge” which shows the national flags of Italy and Japan with a wish of long lasting our friendship.

 The program consisted of Corelli’s Concerto Grosso No.4 in D major, Vivaldi’s “L'estro Armonico” No. 6 in A minor and 2^nd movement from Rossini’s Sonata for Strings No. 6 in D major. All the composes are Italian. Children’s gracious music resonated the audience.

 At the reception after the concert, some members asked an embassy staff why the land of Italy looks like a boot. Then he answered that it is because Italian people love football very much and the Sicily island at the foot of Italy has a shape of the ball all as they hope. The children were happy with his very humorous reply. In addition, they had an opportunity to interact with Her Imperial Highness Princess Takamado, a strong supporter for El Sistema Japan, who generously attended this concert.

 Grazie mille! We deeply appreciate the Embassy of Italy and the Italian Cultural Institute to make such a wonderful opportunity to interact with all of them. May our friendship last forever.

 We also highly appreciate continuous support given by our global giving partenrs - thank you!

Composition Classes for Children in Fukushima

Since 2013, the Friends of El Sistema Japan has been organizing composition classes with Dai Fujikura, a composer with a strong belief that we are all creative by nature. Mr. Fujikura invites guest musicians to participate in his classes, each of whom plays a different instrument – everything from the soprano saxophone to the shamisen, a three-stringed traditional Japanese musical instrument.  Children first listen to instrument demonstrations, and then compose pieces of music of their own. This process takes approximately 30 minutes, which to many people may seem rushed.

While Mr. Fujikura’s instructions are kept to a minimum, two points are stressed: the first is to feel free and able to create whatever comes to mind, and the second is to remain open and not judgmental about your own and others’ work. Rid of the fear of making mistakes, children are able to freely express themselves and create compositions in record time.  According to Mr. Fujikura, children often take a liking to “weird sounds”.  In fact, the pieces composed by participants are often so unique that even experienced guest musicians find the compositions challenging to play.  It is inspiring to see how children’s eyes shine when they witness their ideas and compositions being translated into actual music.

Thanks to the generous supporters like you, we can provide free music education for children like these composition classes. We assure you that, despite various hardships, the children are building life skills by the means of creating music with others.

We appreciate your continued support from the bottom of our hearts – thank you!!!

Runa is a proud alumna of the Soma Children’s Orchestra. After having experienced the devastating Great East Japan Earthquake in Fukushima, she joined the Soma Children’s Orchestra and found the joy of playing music. She left the small town of Soma last year to pursue her college education in Tokyo but has kept her passion for music – she knows first-hand how music can help heal emotional wounds, make friends and create beautiful harmony with them. 

Runa never forgets how the Soma Children’s Orchestra served “like a school” for her. After the Fukushima nuclear disaster, many families in Tamano District, where she grew up, chose to evacuate to other areas. As a result, the number of school children dropped sharply. Having been one of only a handful of students who remained in Tamano District, Runa recalls how excited she was when she found out about the Soma Children’s Orchestra. “I immediately signed up but, learning other children were all younger, I felt insecure. It did not take long to break the ice, however. Everybody was very friendly”, Runa says. The orchestra turned out to be a place where she could not only learn to play the violin but also meet and make new friends from other districts in Soma.

Today Runa and 2 other girls from Soma, Haruka and Momoka, made their debut at a charity concert held in Tokyo. They played as part of the Fellow Orchestra, an amateur orchestra that supports good causes through music. The core members of the Fellow Orchestra, in fact, have been traveling to Fukushima to support the Soma Children’s Orchestra on a pro bono basis. Seizing an opportunity of playing together with big brothers and sisters who used to teach them, the freshman girls could not conceal their excitement. “It’s like a dream.” At the same time, they have become aware of their new role – yes, it is time for them to become big sisters. “I want to further develop my skills and pass it onto the younger generation because that’s the gift I received from the Soma Children’s Orchestra”, Runa describes enthusiastically.

Ticket sales of the charity concert supported by Runa, Haruka and Momoka will partly go to the Soma Children’s Orchestra. It has been nearly 7 years since the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami, but we still recognize the need for continuous support for affected children in Soma. The waning donor interest is a major concern for us. Your contribution has been and will continue to be used in a meaningful way. We appreciate your support very much and sincerely hope you will stay with our children – thank you!

The Soma Children’s Chorus joined the Tokyo White Hands Chorus, an innovative choir of children with hearing impairments, on the occasion of El Sistema Gala Concert held last month. As a new addition to El Sistema Japan family, the Tokyo White Hands Chorus was recently formed with an aim to facilitate children with disabilities to express themselves through art.

It was the day before the concert when the two groups of children met for the first time. The Soma Children’s Chorus has experience of singing with other choirs and orchestras but has never sung with children who cannot hear yet express the world of music through corporal movements – particularly, by the use of the white gloved hands as symbol. So, the children of the Soma Children’s Chorus were excited but at the same time a little anxious when they got together with the Tokyo White Hands Chorus and started practicing “Momiji (Autumn Color of Leaves)”, a very popular nursery rhythm depicting the beauty of the Japanese mountains aflame with autumn color.

“It’s a totally inspiring experience. I’ve never imagined expressing this song in such a way”, said Aya, a mezzosoprano, observing how the children of the Tokyo White Hands Chorus eloquently communicate the vivid autumn colors without using voice but their hands and other body parts. “Depending on how we engage corporal movements, the colors of leaves can change”, describes Hikaru, a hearing-impaired high school student from the Tokyo White Hands Chorus.

The concert represented an opportunity for the two groups of children to interact and learn from each other. They “sang together” 5 songs – the Soma Children’s Chorus with its beautifully resonant voice and the Tokyo White Hands Chorus with its magically flowing body movements. Two pieces put together, the children completed the very unique art of music. 

“Through this experience, I learned we can communicate with each other just by means of gestures”, said Nako, another mezzosoprano, who never had the chance of mingling with hearing-impaired children prior to the concert. It was also meaningful for the members of the Tokyo White Hands Chorus. “Regardless of hearing abilities, we could become friends through music. Now I want to become friends with everybody around the world who may be living with many different types of disabilities”, Misaki, a 3^rd grader of the Tokyo White Hands Chorus, shared her passion.

Thanks to the generous supporters like you, we can organize events like this El Sistema Gala Concert and bring together children of different backgrounds. We strongly believe in the value of accepting differences and promoting an inclusive society through music. We assure you that your contribution has been and will continue to be used in a meaningful way. We appreciate your support from the bottom of our hearts – thank you!