Conductor
Ko Matsushita
A Chorus Master and a Composer; A Lecturer at Kunitachi College of Music;
Born and raised in Tokyo;Graduated top of his class from the Kunitachi College of Music,
Department of Composition; Won the Arima Award upon graduation; Finished his Chorus
Conductor master course at Kodaly Institute in Kecskemet,Hungary; Studied under Yuzuru
Shimaoka, Kouichi Uzaki, Thomas Meyer-Fiebig, Mohay Miklo’s for composing,
Masamitsu Takashina for conducting, Remenyi Janos,
Erdei Peter for chorus mastering,
and S Paula for singing.

He energetically composes and arranges chorus pieces for national audiences in Japan and many of
his works have been performed throughout Europe and Asia. He has also made a study on folk music,
resulting in works that have been inspired by this folkloric element.
"Children's Songs of Ki-no-Kuni" was composed based on warabeuta - an old children's song from
Wakayama prefecture ? and was picked up and very well received by the television program
< World Modern Music > in the former YugoslavianRepublic.
This song was also performed by the girl's choir ELLERHEIN from Estonia in the year 2000 and
by the HUNGARY MAGYAR RADIO CHILDREN'S CHOIR in 2001. He also enjoys discovering and
performing foreign pieces. The first world premiere for Missa Nona was conducted by him in Tokyo
in 2000 and Missa NR.11 in 2002. Both were commissioned work for the Hungarian composer
Mr. Orban Gyorgy.

As a life work, he is studying a method for creating effective harmony based on his theme
< A chorus practice that fosters ears >. He teaches and lectures at chorus workshops and seminars
throughout Japan.

He is a Judge Member of the Japan Choral Association, NHK Chorus Contest, and the Composing
Chorus Works Contest of Tokyo Bunkakaikan.
He is the author of a Junior High School music text published by Kyoiku Publishing.
Additionally, he is a member of the Japan Choral Directors Association,
The Japanese Society for the Rights of Authors, Composers and Publishers,
The Japan Kodaly Society and the International Kodaly Society and an Executive
Board Member of the Japan Choral Association (aggregate corporation).
He is an Executive Committee Member of <Ueno no Mori Chorus Park>
and a representative of Chorus Expression.

He works very actively abroad. The following is a major list of his activities:

1994:Worked as an Assistant Adviser for the HUNGARIAN BROADCAST CHILDREN' S CHOIR

1994:Conducted the female choir BRILLIANT HARMONY at BELA BARTOK INTERNATIONAL CHOIR COMPETITION in Debrecen , Hungary.Won first prize for best performance of a Bartok Chorus Piece Placed in the Folk Ballad category Winner of the Outstanding Conductor Performance Award.

1994:Conducted HUNGARIAN BROADCAST CHILDREN'S CHOIR when the imperial family visited Hungary

1996:Directed ANGELICA LEANYKA as a Guest Conductor in Budapest

1996:Conducted the female choir BRILLIANT HARMONY at a memorial concert  for Hungarian Chorus Day, organized by the Hungarian Chorus Orchestra  Association.

1997:Gave a lecture on Japanese sound systems at < The 5th International Folk  Music and Art Work Symposium> in Beograd former Yugoslavia

1998:His work with the female choir "Ave Regina Coelorum" won the award for  the Best Modern Music Works in the Riva del Garda International Choral Competition, in Italy

2001:Gave a lecture about the Japanese endemic sound system at Jyvaskyla University in Finland

2001:Conducted a the male choir ENSEMBLE PLEIADE at <Marktoberdolf International Chamber Music Contest> in Germany and won 3rd prize, he also won the Carl Olf Composer Award for his work "Karihoshikiriuta"

2001: Instructed and lectured a choir on etude at the<Asian South Pacific Chorus Symposium 2001 > in Singapore


2002:Conducted a mixed choir group of the ladies choirs ANGELICA KUNITACHI COLLEGE OF MUSIC and ANGELICA LEANYKAR in Hungary at a radio  program produced by the Hungarian National Radio, which was broadcasted nationwide.

2002:Conducted the ANGELICA KUNITACHI COLLEGE OF MUSIC Choir at the 7th Riva del Garda International Chorus Competition in Italy and won the Best of Sacred Music title,also 2nd prize for a female choir, and the 2nd best average performance over all.

2003:The chamber choir VOX GAUDIOSA was invited by Taipei Philharmonic Foundation for Culture and Education and the performance was made in Taiwan followed by a lecture for instructors.

2003:Conducted Tokyo Ladies Consort SAYAKA at the 9th Budapest International Chorus Contest in Hungary. Won the gold prize for Female's Choir and for Folklore Music. Took the grand prize for the Best Performance and Best Conductor.

2003:Conducted BRILLIANT HARMONY at the 32nd Florilege Vocal de Tours in Tour, France and stood in the first rank.

2004:A concert of lady's choir ANGELICA KUNITACHI COLLEGE OF MUSIC was held in Taiwan sponsored by Taipei Philharmonic Foundation for Culture and Education.

2004:Accepted the offer of a position as a guest conductor for FORMOSA SINGERS and conducted in Taiwan

2004:Conducted Chamber choir VOX GAUDIOSA at the 21st International Choir Competition Be'la Barto'k in Debrecen, Hungary and got the First prize of Chamber Choir Category, and got the award of the best performance of Hungarian contemporary works, and also got the award of the best conductor.

2004:He wrote the new work, "Aizu-Bandaisan" which commissioned by Singapore youth choir and performed by this choir in Singapore

2005:Composer and Choral Conductor awaerds the Robert Edler Prize for Choral Music 2005

In charge of a permanent conductor or a music director for 10 choir groups.
A co-conductor of OFU CHOIR with Mr.Hiroki Fujii.


< For Mixed Voices>
-From Kawai Publishing-
  "Three Insular Songs of Yaeyama and Miyako Islands"  "Four Insular Songs of  Amami Islands"
 
"When the People Sing"

-From Ongakunotomo Publishing-
"Hopper’s Club" "To the North"  "A Tale of a Kitten" "For Birds"  "A Summer for Winds"
"Scenery in the mind-Suite for mixed chorus/A young man who drops his head/summer has come"
"A Cappella Etudo for mixed chorus 1,2,3"  "Two Folksongs from Akita"


<Suite for female's or Children's choirs>
- From Kawai Publishing-
"Children's Songs of Ki-no-Kuni 1,2,3" "Japanese Folk songs 1,2," " Me, A Little Bird and Suzu"
"Antiphona Beatae Mariae Virginis" "On A Night of Gentle Rain"  "Owl Glasses"
" Daily Bubbles" "Songs of Nonsense" "Songs of Our Favorites"  "From A Northern Land"
"Children's Songs of Asia" "Three Songs on Mr.MADO'S Poems"
"Joyful Etudes for Choir 1,2,3,4,5,6," "Hopper's Club Fam"


< For Male’s Voices >
- From Kawai Publishing-  
"Japanese Folksongs 3-Composition for Male's Choir" "Laudate Pueri"

- From Ongakunotomo Publishing- 
"Cantante Domino"


< For Children’s Voices >
- From Ongakunotomo Publishing-
"Graduation Album" "Spring Has Come"


< Test Pieces for NHK National School Music Contest>

-1998  "Dandelion" for junior high schools
-2000  "In the Beginning" for high schools
-2004  "To Believe" for junior high schools


He is also an author of many other textbooks and educational pieces,

the Composer of a school song for Nagoyashiritsu Sakyoyama Junior High School,
Yachimatashiritsu Yachimatakita Junior High School, Suginamigakuin Junior High School,
Tokyo Denki Daigakufuzoku Junior High School, Toshimakuritsu Minamiikebukuro Elementary
School,  Aizu Aoi High School,  and the Onogakuen Elementary School.Composed
the theme music for C.I.O.F.F.Asian Children's Festival 1998.

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