The recipient of the 2005 Grant for Young Artists is
Kusatsu International Summer Music Academy, Japan
Kusatsu International Summer Music Academy was founded in 1980 with its Festival at Kusatsu Spa in Gunma Prefecture, making it the oldest international summer music academy in Japan. The Gunma Symphony Orchestra, the first civic orchestra founded in Japan after World War II, plays a central role in the academy and festival, which is held for about two weeks in the latter half of August every year. During that time, intensive workshops and concerts are held under the tutelage of first class musicians from ensembles such as the Vienna Philharmonic and the Berlin Philharmonic, and among the world’s many music festivals, it is unique for offering young musicians training in the context of a full orchestra.
With an emphasis on training that elicits the young musiciansEdeepest sensibilities and on facilitating international ties among people, the academy has created a wonderful environment for the formation of the next generation of musicians, surrounding them with music in a splendid natural setting.
Young musicians including many from other Asian countries attend the academy, and it has launched the careers of many prominent performers, including Shoji Sayaka, winner of the Paganini International Competition.
In addition, the ranks of instructors include over 120 musicians, such as Pierre Fournier for cello, Ernst Haefliger for voice, and Bruno Canino for piano.
It is worth noting that the municipal concert hall that serves as the principal venue for the festival is a distinguished work of the prominent Japanese architect, the late Yoshimura Junzo. The first musical director was Toyoda Koji, formerly musical director of the Gunma Symphony Orchestra, and an internationally acclaimed violinist.
The academy plans to hold a concert in Tokyo next year inviting young musicians from neighboring countries in commemoration of the grant.
Chairman of the Board: Matsushita Yasuo (formerly Governor of the Bank of Japan)
Musical Director: Toyama Kazuyuki (formerly President of the Toho Gakuen)
The Grant for Young Artists is an annual grant of 5 million yen given by the Japan Art Association to a group or institution that encourages the involvement of young people in the arts. The Grant for Young Artists was inaugurated to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Praemium Imperiale. Grantees to date are:
2004
Young Sound Forum of Central Europe,
2003
The De Sono Associazione per la Musica, Italy
2002
The European Union Youth Orchestra
2001
The Résidence du Festival, France
2000
The Ulster Youth Orchestra, Northern Ireland
1999
The Instituto Superior de Arte, Cuba
1998
Polish National Film, Television and Theatre School, Poland
1997
Hanoi National Conservatory of Music, Vietnam