On Wednesday, May 11, 2016, at 6:30 PM in Hall 48 of the National Academy of Music “Prof. Pancho Vladigerov”, the Children’s Choir from Wakayama, Japan, gave a short concert as part of their visit with the Sofia Boys Choir on May 10 and 11.
The concert concluded with joint performances by both choirs.
Wakayama Children’s Choir, Wakayama, Japan
Founded in 1958, the choir currently includes 150 children from various schools in the city of Wakayama, located 33 km south of Kansai International Airport in Osaka. In 1970, the ensemble undertook its first tour outside Japan, performing in the USA and Canada, in cities twinned with Wakayama. Since then, the choir has completed 28 international tours, earning numerous awards and distinctions, among which:
- Grand Prize at the International Choral Competition in Portland, USA (1996)
- Gold Medal and Special Prize for the performance of contemporary music in Riva del Garda (1998)
- Gold Medal at the Choir Olympics in Linz (2000)
- Second Prize in the Children’s Choir category at the Tolosa Competition (2003)
- Gold Medal in the Youth Choir and Folklore categories at the Budapest Competition (2005)
- First Prize at the International Festival and Competition for Children’s Choirs in Halle (2007)
- Second Prize at the International Chamber Choir Competition in Takarazuka (2011)
- Special Prize at the 35th International Festival and Competition for Children’s Choirs in Halle, Germany
Haruhiko Numamaru – Conductor
Haruhiko Numamaru made his conducting debut while still a student with the Mixed Choir of Tottori University. In 1992, he was invited to become conductor of the Wakayama Children’s Choir. Under his leadership, the ensemble has completed numerous highly successful concert tours in the USA, Russia, Austria, Hungary, Belgium, the UK, Spain, Germany, and China.
At the World Choral Symposium in Kyoto in 2005, he served as Executive Director responsible for workshops and seminars. He was selected as a lecturer for the National Workshop of Japanese Choirs in 2006, and in 2007 for the National Children’s Choir Festival.
At present, in addition to his work with the Wakayama Children’s Choir, he is also conductor of the Wakayama Youth Choir, Director of the Japanese Choral Conductors Association, Director of the Kansai Choral Association, President of the Wakayama Choral Association, and a member of the Organizing Committee of the Takarazuka International Chamber Choir Competition.
Photos: Archive of the Sofia Boys’ Choir
