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Ryusuke Numajiri

ぬまじり りゅうすけ

Numajiri Ryusuke

Pen Names:

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1964 （Tokyo, Japan）
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese
Residence History
Tokyo (born) → Mitaka (residence/affiliation)

Career

Occupations
Conductor, Composer, Pianist, Professor, Music Director
Active Years
1984-
Affiliations
Toho Gakuen School of Music (Professor), Biwako Hall (Artistic Director / Laureate Artistic Director), Kanagawa Philharmonic Orchestra (Music Director)
Influenced By
Seiji Ozawa, Kazuyoshi Akiyama, Tadaaki Otaka, Akira Miyoshi, Hans-Martin Laby(?)

Education

Toho Gakuen School of Music (Toho Gakuen University)
Faculty of Music
Country: Japan
Graduated from Toho Gakuen; later studied abroad
Berlin University of the Arts
Country: Germany
Studied conducting

Awards

Sasakawa Composition Competition — Choir Category 1st Prize
1984
Organization: Sasakawa Composition Competition
Result: winner
Besançon International Conductors' Competition
1990
Organization: Besançon International Conductors' Competition
Result: winner
Idemitsu Music Prize
1991
Organization: Idemitsu Music Prize
Result: recipient
Japan Art Festival — Newcomer Award (Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology)
2001
Organization: Japan Arts Selection (Agency for Cultural Affairs)
Result: recipient
Music Pen Club Music Award (Concert/Performance)
2002
Work: A performance of 'Turangalîla-Symphonie'
Organization: Music Pen Club
Result: recipient
Agency for Cultural Affairs Arts Festival — Excellence Award
2004
Work: Project and conducting for 'The Future Musical Heritage: The World of Akira Miyoshi' — Night 3
Organization: Agency for Cultural Affairs
Result: recipient
Nakajima Kenzō Music Award
2005
Organization: Nakajima Kenzō Music Award
Result: recipient
Mainichi Arts Award
2005
Organization: Mainichi Newspapers
Result: recipient
Mitsubishi UFJ Trust Music Award
2011
Work: Biwako Hall Numajiri Opera Selection 'Tristan und Isolde'
Organization: Mitsubishi UFJ Trust Music Award
Result: recipient
Medal with Purple Ribbon
2017
Organization: Cabinet Office (Japan)
Result: recipient
Kikuchi Kan Prize
2020
Work: Biwako Hall produced opera 'Götterdämmerung'
Organization: Kikuchi Kan Prize
Result: recipient
ENEOS Music Award
2021
Work: Shared award with Biwako Hall
Organization: ENEOS Music Award
Result: recipient
Shiga Prefecture Cultural Prize
2022
Organization: Shiga Prefecture
Result: recipient

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Pocket no Hoshi (Pocket Star)

Work for women's chorus and piano

A short piece for women's chorus and piano, published by Kawai Publishing.

chorallyricism

The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter (Taketori Monogatari) — Opera

2014 Opera

An opera commissioned by Yokohama Minato Mirai Hall; premiered in semi-staged form and later performed in Hanoi and at Biwako Hall.

Japanese classicmythfolktale elements

Bibliography

  • Pocket no Hoshi (for women's chorus and piano)
  • Opera 'Taketori Monogatari'

Adaptations

  • Taketori Monogatari (productions: Yokohama Minato Mirai Hall, Hanoi Opera House, Biwako Hall)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Contemporary operatic approach in conducting and musical creationFusion of Western symphonic techniques with Japanese lyricism
Recurring Motifs
dialogue between vocal lineslyrical melodic linesnarrativity between stage and music

Legacy

A conductor, composer and pianist active both in Japan and internationally. Through nurturing young artists and producing regional theater projects, he has contributed to the development of opera and performance culture in Japan. He holds numerous awards and honors (including the Medal with Purple Ribbon) and has been active in promoting regional culture.

Trivia

  • Nominated as Honorary Citizen of Mitaka (2021)
  • Professor, Conducting Department, Toho Gakuen School of Music
  • Studied at the Berlin University of the Arts
  • Artistic Director of Biwako Hall (2nd, 2007–2023); later Laureate Artistic Director