The 5th Special Concert in Yanmar Museum
On Sunday, July 14, 2024, the Yamaoka Memorial Foundation sponserd the 5th Special Concert in Yanmar Museum in Nagahama City, Shiga Prefecture, and 134 people attended.
The concert was part of the cultural exchange between Japan and Germany, as well as between Japan and Europe. This program aims to provide the audience, including people of the younger generation, with high-quality performances (this time lead by musicians of the Osaka Philharmonic Orchestra and the Osaka Symphony Orchestra) of works by European composers to let them experience the wonders and depths of them.
The mayor of Nagahama, Mr. Asami, also attended the event and gave a speech about Magokichi Yamaoka, the founder of Yanmar Holdings Co. Ltd. and a native of Nagahamas Takatsuki ward. He went on with his appreciation for the Yamaoka Memorial Foundation's music education program for children in Nagahama and the importance of music.
The concert featured many commonly known songs, making it a concert that could be enjoyed by everyone, regardless of gender or age.
The ensemble of violin, viola, cello, double bass, clarinet, trombone, and percussion performed a wide variety of pieces, ranging from elegant and relaxed to upbeat and fun, making it a wonderful experience that could be listened to for hours.
At one point a clarinet player walked through the audience while playing and a trombone player allowed children to touch the instrument, giving the audience an opportunity to become familiar with the instruments.
When the last song finished, the venue was filled with an atmosphere of regret for the fun time to come to an end, and thunderous applause rang out throughout the venue.
In a following survey, attendees commented that they had enjoyed listening to the wonderful performances by the professional musicians. One voice said that they are a member of a brass band and that the concert inspired them to perform at concerts themselves and entertain many people.
In addition, in response to the question, "Would you like there to be similar concerts in the following years?" 97% responded “yes”, with many expressing a desire for the event to continue every year.