Sapporo Symphony Orchestra

The Sapporo Symphony Orchestra (札幌交響楽団 Sapporo Kokyo Gakudan) is a Japanese orchestra based in Sapporo, Japan. Colloquially known as "Sakkyo", this is the only professional orchestra in Hokkaido. The orchestra gives its concerts at the Sapporo Concert Hall Kitara.

The orchestra was founded in 1961 as the Sapporo Citizen Symphony, with Masao Araya as its first principal conductor, and gave its first subscription concert that same year. The next year, the orchestra renamed itself the Sapporo Symphony Orchestra. Araya served as principal conductor of the orchestra until 1968. In 1975, the orchestra toured to the USA and to West Germany. In 2007, the orchestra celebrated its 500th subscription concert. In October 2009, the orchestra was re-organised itself as a public interest incorporated foundation. The orchestra toured Europe for its 50th anniversary celebrations.

Tadaaki Otaka was chief conductor of the orchestra from 1981 to 1986, then music advisor and principal conductor from 1998 to 2004, and then music director from 2005 to 2015. Otaka now has the title of honorary music director of the orchestra. Radomil Eliška served as principal guest conductor from 2008 to 2015, and now has the title of honorary conductor. The orchestras current principal guest conductor is Junichi Hirokami, since April 2017.

The orchestra's current chief conductor is Max Pommer, who was named to the post in 2014 and formally took up the post in 2015.[1][2] He is scheduled to step down from the post in 2018. In October 2017, the orchestra announced the appointment of Matthias Bamert as its next chief conductor, effective with the 2018-2019 season, with an initial contract of 3 years.[3]

Conductors in leadership positions

  • Max Pommer (Chief Conductor, 2015 - present )
  • Tadaaki Otaka (Chief Conductor, 1981-1986; Music Advisor and Principal Conductor, 1998-2004; Music Director, 2005-2015; Honorary Music Director, 2015-present)
  • Kazuyoshi Akiyama (Music Advisor, later Principal Conductor; 1988-1998)
  • Hiroyuki Iwaki (Principal Conductor, then Music Director, 1975-1987; Conductor Laureate, 1988-2006)
  • Peter Schwarz (Principal Conductor, 1967-1975)
  • Masao Araya (Principal Conductor, 1961-1968)

References

  1. ↑ "Max Pommer wird Chefdirigent in Sapporo". Saarbrücker Zeitung. 2014-08-29. Retrieved 2017-10-24.
  2. ↑ Oliver Schwambach (2016-02-08). "Saarbrücker Dirigent Max Pommer wird 80". Saarbrücker Zeitung. Retrieved 2017-10-24.
  3. ↑ Michelle Debra (2017-10-15). "Matthias Bamert à Sapporo". Crescendo Magazine. Retrieved 2017-10-24.
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