Yamagata Symphony Orchestra

Led by General Artistic Director Norichika Iimori, Principal Conductor Tetsuro Ban, Principal Guest Conductor Hidemi Suzuki and Radek Baborák, Founding Honorary Conductor Chiaki Murakawa, Honorary Conductor Hideomi Kuroiwa, and Composer in Residence Akira Nishimura, the Yamagata Symphony Orchestra performs almost 150 times a year including regular subscription concerts, special concerts, request concerts, school concerts, and various other concerts, as well as television and radio performances. Performing with natural brass instruments for classical period works is one of YSO’s special characteristics. The history of the Yamagata Symphony Orchestra dates back to 1971 when a preparatory orchestra was formed under the Conductor Chiaki Murakawa. It became the very first professional orchestra in northeastern Japan in January 1972. In August of the same year the Yamagata Symphony Association was formed as the managing organization for the orchestra, and subscription concert started in September. The orchestra’s activities were expanded to all six prefectures in northeastern Japan, and Niigata prefecture as well. Since YSO held its first Tokyo performance at Suntory Hall in 1987, YSO has regularly performed in Tokyo – “Sakuranbo (Cherry) Concert” at Tokyo Opera City Concert Hall every June since 2003, and also in Osaka since 2012 when its activities were expanded to the Kansai area.