ABOUT THIS MUSIC FESTIVAL

GREETING

The Nagasaki Ojika International Music Festival was born in 2002, with the belief that “the essence of art lies in the richness of nature,” and this year marks its 22nd edition.
Despite the common belief that it is difficult to sustain a classical music festival for an extended period, we have been able to continue thanks to the dedicated efforts of our instructors, participants, sponsors, supporters, the people of the island, and many others. We are truly grateful for all their contributions.
Our music director, Prof. Susumu Aoyagi, has consistently conveyed to the participants that he wants them to “feel the sounds that can only be heard here.” Not only do we seek musical excellence, but the island’s rich natural surroundings, delicious food, and the warm, unpretentious hospitality of the islanders have captivated both instructors and participants. This has led to the creation of extraordinary music that can only be heard here.
In the previous festival, thanks to the efforts of our esteemed instructors, we welcomed a full roster of participants from across Japan.
There was a time when classical music was perceived as inaccessible by many of the town’s residents. However, with each concert, we have seen full audiences at our venues, and beautiful melodies resonated throughout various parts of the island. In addition to performances by our instructors, the opening act of our faculty concerts featured collaborations between participants and local junior high and high school brass bands as well as wind ensembles. These performances were highly praised and contributed to increased audience numbers and successful community engagement.
Ojika Town is the smallest municipality in Nagasaki Prefecture. However, for this 22nd festival, we are adding new instructors in order to further develop and promote this small island’s music festival on a global scale. We will continue our efforts to ensure its ongoing success.
Please enjoy this miraculous music festival that continues on this small island floating in the Saikai Sea.
Chairperson of the Nagasaki Ojika International Music Festival

Executive Committee
Kiyomi Egawa