HOTEL THE MITSUI KYOTO

On November 20, an all-alumni string quartet performed at one of the most luxurious hotels in historical Kyoto. The hotel stands on the site of the 17th century residence of the Mitsui family, to which Mitsui Fudosan, Co., Ltd. - a main sponsor of PMF - traces its roots. The site’s lush historical Japanese gardens are today still enjoyed by hotel guests, and attendees of this performance were no exception, with peak Autumn colors serving as a backdrop to the quartet.

PMF Classical Lab♪

This new series of presentations designed to make classical music more casually enjoyable to a broader audience continues with its second installment on March 18 in the Creative Studio in the Sapporo Cultural Arts Community Center. Following on the highly popular “Secrets of the Orchestra” program during PMF 2021, this second installment will center on classical music’s ties to Italian culture and history, featuring performances by organist/harpsichordist Nicola Procacinni (22nd Sapporo Concert Hall Resident Organist) and baritone Takahiro Shimotsuka, led once again by Arisa Iida!

PMF Connects LIVE!

The March 8 installment of the now longstanding “PMF Connects LIVE!” concert series, created in order to provide live music during the pandemic, will feature ensembles whose scheduled performances at PMF 2021 sadly had to be canceled. Sapporo audiences now have a second chance to hear both student and professional performers in a program of Mozart, Beethoven, and more in the Small Hall of Sapporo Concert Hall Kitara, including the Maximilian String Quartet - an ensemble consisting of members of the Sapporo Symphony Orchestra, 2 of whom are PMF alumni!

“Harmony” Meeting at Hoheikan

The PMF volunteer group “Harmony” has dedicatedly supported Academy members during the festival every year since the group’s formation in 1998. We can only imagine how difficult the pandemic has been for them, not being able to serve as they did before! In light of our preparations for PMF 2022, Harmony also began preparing, starting with their annual meeting at Hoheikan on December 2, an important historical building in Sapporo. A piano trio including 2 PMF alumni performed and gave a talk, sharing memories of their time at PMF.

PMF Music School - “Gakko de Culture”

PMF has been presenting ‘PMF Music School’ programs at public elementary schools in Sapporo since 2016, as part of the “Gakko de Culture” series, with cultural activities at public elementary schools sponsored by Sapporo City’s Cultural Promotion Section. This year, PMF presented concerts at 9 schools from October to December.
‘PMF Music School’ is a 45-minute program with varied repertoire performed by an ensemble of violin, piano, woodwind quintet, and percussion, with brief explanations of each instrument, quiz sessions allowing students and performers to communicate during the program, and opportunities for several students to conduct the ensemble. This program offers invaluable opportunities for children to experience live music, which have been all too rare in our pandemic era.