Ko Matsushita Profile (b.1962)
-PROFILE-
A Conductor and a Composer; A Lecturer at Kunitachi College of Music; Born and raised in Tokyo; Graduated top of his class from the Kunitachi College of Music, Department of Composition; Won the Arima Award upon graduation; Finished his Chorus Conductor master course at Kodaly Institute in Kecskemet, Hungary; Studied under Yuzuru Shimaoka, Koichi Uzaki, Thomas Meyer-Fiebig, Mohay Miklo's for composing, Late Remenyi Janos, Erdei Péter for chorus conducting, Masamitsu Takahashi for orchestral conducting, and Somoriai Paula for singing.
He energetically composes and arranges chorus pieces for national audiences in Japan and many of his works have been performed throughout Europe and Asia. He has also made a study on folk music, resulting in works that have been inspired by this folkloric element. " Children's Songs of Ki-no-Kuni " was composed based on warabeuta - an old children's song from Wakayama prefecture - and was picked up and very well received by the television program< World Modern Music > in the former Yugoslavian Republic (present Serbia and Montenegro). This song was also performed by the girl's choir ELLERHEIN from Estonia in the year 2000 and by the MAGYAR RADIO CHILDREN'S CHOIR in 2001. He also enjoys discovering and performing foreign pieces. The first world premiere for Missa Nona was conducted by him in Tokyo in 2000 and Missa NR.11 in 2002. Both were commissioned work for the Hungarian composer Mr. Orban Gyorgy. In 2004, Singapore Youth Choir commissioned to write new work for him, and they performed as the world premiere in Singapore. And, not only this choir, but also many Singapore's choir are singing his many works now. Also in 2004, He conducted as a guest conductor in Taiwan, Formosa singers at the National Concert Hall in Taipei.
He is a jury Member of the Japan Choral Association, NHK (Japan Broadcasting Association) School Choir competition, and the Composing Chorus Works Competition of Tokyo Cultural Hall. He is the author of a Junior High School music textbook published by Kyoiku Publishing. Additionally, he is an Executive Board Member of the Japan Choral Association and vice-president of the Tokyo Choral Association. And he is a member of the Japan Choral Directors Association, The Japanese Society for the Rights of Authors, Composers and Publishers, The Japan Kodaly Society and the International Kodaly Society. And he is a representative of the Workshop of the Choral Expression.
As a life work, he is studying a method for creating effective harmony based on his theme < A chorus practice that fosters ears >. He teaches and lectures at chorus workshops and seminars throughout Japan, Taiwan, and Singapore.
As a Conductor
He works very actively abroad. The following is a major list of his activities:
| 1994 | Worked as an Assistant Adviser for the HUNGARIAN BROADCAST(MAGYAR RADIO) CHILDREN'S CHOIR |
| 1994 | Conducted the female choir BRILLIANT HARMONY at BÉLA BARTÓK INTERNATIONAL CHOIR COMPETITION in Debrecen, Hungary. They got a special prize for best performance of a Bartok Chorus Piece. Placed in the Folk Ballad category. He got one of a winner of the Outstanding Conductor Performance Award. |
| 1994 | Conducted HUNGARIAN BROADCAST CHILDREN'S CHOIR when the Japanese imperial family visited Hungary. |
| 1996 | Directed ANGELICA Girls' choir as a Guest Conductor in Budapest. |
| 1996 | Conducted the female choir BRILLIANT HARMONY at a memorial concertfor Hungarian Chorus Day, organized by the Hungarian Chorus Orchestra Association (KOTA). |
| 1997 | Gave a lecture on Japanese sound systems at < The 5th International Folk Music and Art Work Symposium> in Beograd, former Yugoslavia. |
| 1998 | His work with the female choir "Ave Regina Cœlorum" which got the award for the Best Modern Music Works in the Riva del Garda International Choral Competition, in Italy. |
| 2001 | Gave a lecture about the Japanese endemic sound system at Jyvaskyla University in Finland. |
| 2001 | Conducted a the male choir ENSEMBLE PLEIADE at <Marktoberdolf International Chamber Music Contest> in Germany and won 3rd prize, he also won the Carl Orff Composer Award for his work " Kariboshi-kiri-uta" |
| 2001 | Instructed and lectured a choir on etude at the <Asia and South Pacific Chorus Symposium 2001 > in Singapore. |
| 2002 | Conducted both 2 ladies choirs ANGELICA KUNITACHI COLLEGE OF MUSIC and ANGELICA Girls' choir in Hungary at a radio program produced by the Hungarian National Radio, which was broadcasted nationwide. |
| 2002 | Conducted the ANGELICA KUNITACHI COLLEGE OF MUSIC Choir at the 7th Riva del Garda International Chorus Competition in Italy and won the Best of Sacred Music category, also 2nd prize for a female choir category, and the 2nd best average performance over all. |
| 2003 | The Chamber Choir VOX GAUDIOSA was invited by Taipei Philharmonic Foundation for Culture and Education and the performance was made in Taiwan followed by a lecture for instructors. |
| 2003 | Conducted Tokyo Ladies Consort SAYAKA at the 9th Budapest International Chorus Competition in Hungary. Won the gold prize for Female's Choir and for Folklore Music. Took the Grand prize for the Best Performance and Best Conductor. |
| 2003 | Conducted BRILLIANT HARMONY at the 32nd Florilege Vocal de Tours in Tour, France and got the first prize of the category of free program and also got the second prize of the category of female choir. |
| 2004 | A concert of Lady's choir ANGELICA KUNITACHI COLLEGE OF MUSIC was held in Taiwan sponsored by Taipei Philharmonic Foundation for Culture and Education. |
| 2004 | Accepted the offer of a position as a guest conductor for FORMOSA SINGERS and conducted in Taiwan. |
| 2004 | Conducted Chamber choir VOX GAUDIOSA at the 21st International Choir Competition Béla Bartók in Debrecen, Hungary and got the First prize of Chamber Choir Category, and got the award of the best performance of Hungarian contemporary works, and also got the award of the best conductor. |
| 2004 | He wrote the new work, "Aizu-Bandaisan" which commissioned by Singapore youth choir and performed by this choir in Singapore. |
| 2004 | Conducted Brilliant Harmony Female Choir at the 36th Tolosa International Choir Competition in Tolosa, Spain and got the 2 First prizes of Equal voices Category and Folklore Category, and also got the award of the Best performance of the Basque music, besides got the Grand Prix. They were recommended to take part in the European Grand Prix 2005 in Varna, Bulgaria. |
| 2004 | Conducted male choir ENSEMBLE PLEIADE at <Marktoberdolf International Chamber Music Contest> in Germany and won 2nd prize (there was not 1st prize), he also won the Carl Orff Composer Award for his work " Yagi-bushi 2005" |
| 2005 | Conducted Brilliant Harmony was invited the Legnano International Choir Festival in Italy. |
| 2005 | He was awarded the "Robert Edler Prize for Choral Music 2005" at Marktoberdorf, Germany. |
| 2005 | Conducted Chamber Choir VOX GAUDIOSA Performed in 7th World Choral Symposium in Kyoto, and also his work "Dona nobis pacem" for three groups children's choir was performed as a premiere performance in this Symposium (International KODOMO Chorus Festival 2005). |
| 2006 | Conducted male choir ENSEMBLE PLEIADE was invited the 7th Taipei International Choral Festibal in Taiwan. |
| 2007 | Conducted Chamber Choir VOX GAUDIOSA at the 39th Tolosa International Choir Competition in Tolosa, Spain and got the First prizes of mixed voice Polyphonic Category and Second prizes of Folklore Category, and also got the 2nd best average performance over all. |
Currently, he is in charge of a permanent conductor or a music director for 10 choir groups.
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