KITAZUME Michio

Born in Tokyo in 1948, Michio Kitazume studied composition with Tomojiro Ikenouchi, Akio Yashiro, Teizo Matsumura, piano with Shozo Tsubota, conducting with Hideo Saito and Masamitsu Takahashi at Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music. In '77, he joined "Ensemble Vent d'Orient", the collaboration group of players and composers as a composer, conductor and producer and introduced domestic and foreign modern music after Schoenberg. This group won the 1st Nakajima Kenzo Contemporary Music Prize in '83. From 1979, he studied in Paris for one year under the overseas study program of the Agency for Cultural Affairs. Since then, he has composed many works commissioned by miscellaneous groups and institutes, and many of his works are performed at home and abroad, and internationally appreciated.
In '94, his Ei-Sho won Otaka Prize, and then Grand-Prix of IRC-UNESCO next year. It is selected for the forum's CD as one of the 19 works of the half century. In 2001, he received the Otaka Prize again for Scenes of the Earth. In 2002, Clarinet Concerto was premiered by Stanley Drucker and Kioi Sinfonietta Tokyo conducted by Tadaaki Otaka. In 2003, Suntory Foundation featured his orchestral works in its annual solo-exhibition concert series A Profile of a Composer. In 2004, he won the 22nd Nakajima Kenzo Music Prize for his distinguished achievement in music composition including Concerto for Orchestra. As well as orchestral works, his style of composition ranges from pieces using various musical instruments, vocal and chorus to the works for Japanese traditional music. His works for Japanese traditional instruments include Yu-En: Homage to Birds (1994) and many others, two of which are commissioned by National Theatre.
The sounds of his works, originated from his dialogic relationship with nature, have been introduced globally, not only at concert performances of many outstanding musicians but in CDs, broadcast, and other forms. He has also had a keen interest in wind orchestra. Since 2008, he has produced an annual project Band Restoration, in which 8 school brass bands premier 8 contemporary musicians' new pieces for wind ensemble, hosted by Hamamatsu Cultural Foundation in Hamamatsu City. In 2012, his To the Sky for Wind Orchestra was performed in the Midwest Clinic. In 2013, several recordings of his works, including Ren-ku (Kotouta by Ayumi Shimonoto), Windy Horizon (by Hiroshima Wind Orchestra conducted by Tatsuya Shimono), Leeds Singing a Song (Oboe by Tomoyuki Hirota, Piano by Iku Miwa), Four Seasons in Kenrokuen (Piano by Rika Miyatani) were released. Also in 2013, he received the 23rd Japan Academic Society of Winds, Percussion and Brass Award.
CDs: Orchestral Works by Michio Kitazume (Fontec-FOCD2514), Michio Kitazume-A Profile of a Composer: (Fontec-FOCD3505) and many others.
He is affiliate professor of Tokyo College of Music, professor emeritus of Aichi Prefectural University of Fine Arts and Music.

Born in Tokyo in 1948, Michio Kitazume studied composition with Tomojiro Ikenouchi, Akio Yashiro, Teizo Matsumura, piano with Shozo Tsubota, conducting with Hideo Saito and Masamitsu Takahashi at Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music. In '77, he joined "Ensemble Vent d'Orient", the collaboration group of players and composers as a composer, conductor and producer and introduced domestic and foreign modern music after Schoenberg. This group won the 1st Nakajima Kenzo Contemporary...