Hiroshima Symphony Orchestra

The Hiroshima Symphony Orchestra (広島交響楽団) is an orchestra based in Hiroshima, Japan, founded in 1963. It is the only professional orchestra in Japan's Chūgoku region.

Music Directors

 * Akeo Watanabe (1984–86)
 * Ken Takaseki (1986–90)
 * Yoshikazu Tanaka (1990–94)
 * Naohiro Totsuka (1994–98)
 * Norichika Iimori, Hiroyuki Odano, Kazumasa Watanabe (1995–2002)
 * Hong-Jae Kim (2002–04)
 * Kazuyoshi Akiyama (1998–present)
 * Tatsuya Shimono (Designate– Starting April 2017)

History

 * Founded as the "Hiroshima Civic Orchestra" in 1963.
 * Renamed the "Hiroshima Symphony Orchestra" in 1969.
 * Became a professional orchestra in 1972.
 * Akeo Watanabe inaugurated as the music director and the permanent conductor in 1984.
 * Held UN peace concerts in Vienna and Prague in 1991.
 * Held concerts at the Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre in Tokyo and The Symphony Hall in Osaka in 1993.
 * Performed for the opening events of the 12th Asian Games in Hiroshima in 1994.
 * In the 149th regular concert, performed Krzysztof Penderecki's "Threnody to the Victims of Hiroshima" in 1994.
 * Performed Toshio Hosokawa's "Hiroshima Requiem" and Ikuma Dan's "Symphony No.6 'Hiroshima' to support world peace in 1995.
 * Started their forum to develop the ideal picture of the local symphony for the 21st century in 1997.
 * Started the RCC TV program "Hiroshima symphony" in 1997.
 * Performed Beethoven's Symphony No.5 and other works for the October in Normandy (the events with classical and modern music) in Normandy in 1997.
 * Performed Toshio Hosokawa's "Memory of the Sea" in 1998.
 * Kazuyoshi Akiyama was inaugurated as the first conductor in 1998.
 * Held the international music festival "August in Hiroshima '99" and performed Mahler's "Symphony No.2" in 1999.
 * Performed in the 3rd orchestra festival for local cities in Japan at Sumida Triphony Hall in 2000.
 * Held the 200th regular concert and performed Ottorino Respighi's "The Roman trilogy (Fontane di Roma, Pini di Roma, Feste Romane)" in 2000.
 * Performed Eduard Tubin's "Symphony No.3 in D minor 'Heroic'" in 2002.
 * Performed in the orchestra festival for local cities in Japan in 2003.
 * Performed at the St. Petersburg Philharmonic Large Hall to celebrate the 300th Anniversary of Saint Petersburg and receiving a medal from UNESCO in 2003.
 * Performed in Seoul, Busan, and Daegu to celebrate Korea-Japan Friendship Year in 2005.
 * Founded the Hiroshima United with Hiroshima Toyo Carp and Sanfrecce Hiroshima in 2007.
 * Founded the Hiroshima United with Hiroshima Toyo Carp and Sanfrecce Hiroshima in 2007.