12th Annual Toyota Youth Music Camp

Tokyo―TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION announced today that it will co-host with the Japan Amateur Orchestra Federation (JAO) the "12th Toyota Youth Music Camp" at The Bunka Kaikan Hall in Ueno Park, and the National Olympic Memorial Youth Center in Yoyogi, both in Tokyo.

With the aim of "contributing to the promotion of regional culture," Toyota has been supporting the activities of amateur orchestras throughout Japan since 1981, including sponsorship of "Toyota Community Concerts" in cooperation with the JAO. The Toyota Youth Music Camp has been organized annually since 1985 as part of this cultural promotion program.

About 200 young persons aged 10-24 from Japan's amateur orchestras are invited every year for four-day orchestral training by music professionals.

The same group of participants are invited to complete the full training course, which stretches over three years. After each year's training, the participants return to their orchestras to impart their expertise acquired through workshops and lectures on orchestral performance, and eventually to become leaders in local music activities. The Toyota Youth Music Camp is distinguished by having the participants voluntarily manage all activities, including workshop planning, preparations, and operation. During the last days of the third camp, the participants take part in public concerts to demonstrate what they have learned.

Being the final year for the fourth group, which includes participants from 17 countries, they will play in the "World Youth Orchestra Festival," free public concerts on the afternoons of August 2 (Fri.) and August 3 (Sat.). Leading the young musicians will be conductors Kazuyoshi Akiyama and Yuichi Takubo.

Leaders of amateur orchestras from around the world have been invited as observers at the Toyota Youth Music Camp. In addition, they will participate in the "6th World Youth Orchestra Council" to exchange information about the situation and problems concerning youth orchestras in their respective countries, and to express their views on future exchange programs.

Please see the attachment for further details regarding the Toyota Youth Music Camp and related events.

Outline of "12th Toyota Youth Orchestra Camp"

1. Outline of program

   Period

   • July 31 (Wednesday) to August 3 (Saturday), 1996 (three nights/four days)

   Public concerts on final two days

   • Title

     "World Youth Orchestra Festival"

   • Dates

     (Day 1) August 2 (Friday) 14:00-16:00

     Performers

     Junior Division, conducted by Yuichi Takubo
     National Youth Orchestra of Canada, conducted by Kazuyoshi Akiyama

     (Day 2) August 3 (Saturday) 14:00-16:00

     Performers

     Youth Division, and youths from overseas, conducted by Kazuyoshi Akiyama

   • Place

     Tokyo Bunka Kaikan Hall (Main Hall)

   Training site

   • National Olympic Memorial Youth Center (3-1, Yoyogi-Kamizonocho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo)

     Opening ceremony

     July 31 (Wednesday) 13:30-14:00

   • Tokyo Bunka Kaikan Hall (5-45, Ueno-Koen, Taito-ku, Tokyo)

     Closing ceremony

     August 3 (Saturday) 16:30-17:00

   Music for training

   • Youth Division, and youths from overseas
     Symphonie Fantastique by Hector Berlioz Suite "Masquerade" by Aram Khachaturian Violin Concerto by Samuel Barber
   • Junior Division
     "Simple Symphony" by Benjamin Britten

   Participants

   • Domestic youths195 persons
     Youth Division130 persons (aged 14-24) Junior Division65 persons (aged 9-16)
   • Youths from overseas20 persons (aged 11-24)
   • Instructors from overseas23 persons

   Sponsored by

   Japan Federation of Amateur Orchestras Co-sponsored byToyota Motor Corporation