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We are pleased to announce that the next APA International Chamber Music Festival for amateur chamber music players will be held April 8-18, 2024. The festival returned in 2023 after a COVID19-induced hiatus. This year's format will be similar to last year's, with three concerts, the one in Hakone, play-in-style. With Covid on the wane in Japan, we hope to see many more of our foreign friends return.
The APA International Chamber Music Festival 2024 (ICMF2024) provides a venue at which both overseas and Japanese amateur players can participate in cultural exchange through music. Players from overseas visit Japan for the Festival to enjoy playing, performing and socializing with Japanese amateur players. It is a basic tenet of the event that ensembles will comprise both international visitors and Japanese players in mixed groups. Please note that the emphasis of the Festival is on playing, and rehearsal time will be limited; see more about this in the sections below.
As in past years, the first concert will be held at Miyajigakki Hall, Musashi-Koganei, Tokyo, which is located a 20-minute train ride from the central Tokyo area. The second concert will be held in Atami, an oceanside town with famous hot spring spas, in Shizuoka prefecture. Atami is about 100 km south of Tokyo, and an hour by bullet train from Tokyo Station. On the way there, the Festival will stop in Hakone to join local chamber music enthusiasts for a play-in-style concert. Overseas participants are advised to arrive in Japan one week before the Koganei concert. Rehearsal space is booked starting on April 8th.
All amateur chamber music players are welcome--strings, winds and pianists. Both pre-formed groups and individuals can be accommodated. We will create Festival ensembles by mixing overseas participants and Japanese players. In principle everyone plays in two ensembles. The music will be selected based on participant requests. Rentals of big instruments such as double bass and cello can be arranged. *A pre-formed overseas ensemble may be possible — please contact us to discuss.
At least two rehearsals will be scheduled for each concert. Also, there will be a dress/stage rehearsal the morning of each concert. The second concert in Hakone can also serve as a rehearsal opportunity for Atami.
Each Festival ensemble (trio, quartet, quintet, etc.) will consist of a combination of overseas and Japanese participants. As rehearsal time in Japan will be very limited, all ensemble members will need to be exceptionally well-prepared before meeting their Japanese or overseas colleagues. We suggest that, if possible, in addition to learning your individual part, you put together a group at home so that you can practice playing your part within an ensemble before the festival.
Each participant may propose the music that they wish to play. A final decision on repertoire will be made by the organizer based on the number of participants and the instruments they play.
The organizer will send you a list of hotels near the concert halls in Tokyo, Hakone and Atami via email. Participants will make their own accommodation arrangements (hotels, food, insurance, etc.). Participants will also be responsible for their own transportation costs within Japan. Information about transportation will be provided.
The costs of the Festival will be shared by all participants. A participation fee will be assessed to cover expenses such as rental fees for the concert halls and practice rooms, and printing fees for programs and flyers. (Again, accommodation is not included.) As a reference, the fee per person for the 2023 festival was 2,800 JPY (one concert) to 4,600 JPY (all concerts). An after-concert party fee will be around 4,500 including free drinks. The cost to register is 10,000 JPY*. The registration fee will count towards the participation fee; the precise total due will be adjusted at a later date. The participation fee can be brought to the welcome reception in Tokyo (no need to send it beforehand).
*1 USD is 141 JPY; 1 EURO is 156 JPY, as of January 2, 2024.
So, the registration fee of 10,000 JPY will be about 71 U.S. dollars, and/or 64 Euro.
There will be no coachings, nor will any lessons be provided.
For more information and to apply, see this file. Please download, fill out the application info, and return by February 1.
- Having safely arrived at Kyoto, I am thinking of how nice and exciting it was to participate in your festival. I already feel like slightly advanced into Japanese customs. (R.V.)
- We only can express our admiration of what you have created. The APA-festival was wonderfully planned and executed. I for myself would be glad if there will take place a similar event next year, and perhaps I will be enabled to participate for the second time to play again in this wonderful milieu??! (G.D.)
- Thank you very much for a wonderful time in Japan! I am already excited (rather prematurely) about coming back and doing it all again! Please keep me informed about future opportunities (J.K.)
- It was a wonderful experience for me and a good reason to finally visit Japan. (M.P.)
- For me and my wife the eight days in Japan were absolutely fantastic. We enjoyed very much the company of your fellow-musicians. It gave us a very special window for observing Japan. (W.H.)
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