BST Hosts Special Event with Munich Philharmonic Orchestra

This exclusive experience, held on 6 November at BST’s Azabudai Hills campus ahead of the Orchestra’s Japan Tour on 7-8 November, provided BST students with a rare opportunity to engage directly with members from Munich Philharmonic Orchestra, renowned globally for its rich musical heritage and innovation.

Twelve BST student violinists were invited to participate in a private instrument masterclass with four distinguished musicians from Munich Philharmonic Orchestra. This hands-on experience allowed students to deepen their musical skills, as they explored techniques and insights directly from world-class professional orchestra members.

Following the instrumental session, the four members of Munich Philharmonic Orchestra took part in a Q&A session and an intimate concert for an audience of over 250 BST students. The event, warmly received by students and staff alike, created an atmosphere of inspiration and learning, with students expressing their excitement and appreciation for the rare chance to learn from and perform with musicians of this calibre.

The event underscored BST’s commitment to providing students with enriching educational opportunities that extend beyond the classroom. This collaboration, made possible through BMW Group Japan’s generous sponsorship, reflects the value the school places on cultural exchange and international partnerships. BMW Group Japan’s support of this event aligns with its own mission to foster cultural bridges between Germany and Japan, and BST is proud to partner with both the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra and BMW Group Japan in offering this meaningful experience.

The British School in Tokyo nurtures each student’s unique potential and strives to help them create a strong sense of self, built around purpose and passion. This joint event was yet another step in the school’s mission to provide students with unique learning experiences that foster both cultural appreciation and personal growth.

The British School in Tokyo was founded in 1989 and is now the biggest British international school in Japan. In the past 35 years it has continually grown and flourished, with a commitment to excellence – delivering education founded in the English National Curriculum and embracing all that its uniquely international and Japanese setting provides.

BST currently provides world-class education to over 1,300 students representing 65 nationalities in the two campuses within Tokyo, starting with Nursery classes for children aged 3 through to Year 13 aged 18 years old. BST developed a reputation as one of the best international schools in Japan, and its students transfer to leading universities worldwide.

The School’s mission is to nurture each student’s unique potential and strive to help them create a strong sense of self built around purpose and passion. While the School aims to develop the following values:

- We strive to achieve our personal best.
- We are honest and show kindness, compassion and respect for others.
- We are curious, creative and innovative in our thinking.
- We embrace diversity and celebrate individuality.
- We are internationally minded and culturally aware.
- We have a sense of social and environmental responsibility.

Founded in 1893 by Franz Kaim, the son of a piano manufacturer, the orchestra became the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra in 1928 when it was administered by the municipal government of Munich. The orchestra set high, traditional musical standards from the beginning, as Gustav Mahler himself gave the world premieres of Symphonies No.4 and 8. Additionally, Ferdinand Lowe, the director of the Munich Philharmonic at the time, actively promoted the works of his mentor, Anton Bruckner. In 1979, Sergiu Celibidache became the orchestra’s general music director and established the golden age of the orchestra, especially through his masterful performances of Bruckner symphonies. In 2026, Lahav Shani is to be appointed the new chief conductor.

With more than 100 initiatives worldwide, BMW Group’s cultural commitment has been an essential part of the company for over 40 years. In 1972, Gerhard Richter created three large paintings to decorate the lobby of the BMW Group’s Munich headquarter office. Since then, numerous other artists have collaborated with BMW Group, including Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein, Olafur Eliasson, Zubin Mehta, Anna Netrebko, and Jeff Koons. In 2011, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation, the Guggenheim Museum, and the BMW Group collaborated on the design of the BMW Group headquarters’ building and factory. Unrestricted freedom of creative potential is of the utmost importance, as it is equally as crucial for the field of art as it is for groundbreaking innovations within a business enterprise. The BMW Group places the focus of its cultural engagement on modern and contemporary art, jazz, and classical music as well as architecture.