BST students to Perform with the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra

This prestigious event will take place at Hitomi Hall at BST’s Showa Campus on 24th March, bringing together young talent and professional excellence in a spectacular afternoon of music.

As part of BST’s commitment to nurturing each student’s unique potential, this performance will showcase the extraordinary music skills of BST students alongside one of Japan’s leading orchestras. The concert will feature a carefully curated programme, blending classical masterpieces with contemporary arrangements, offering an inspiring experience for the entire school community and beyond.

The concert will open with the iconic Raiders March from Raiders of the Lost Ark and conclude with a well-known Japanese song, Believe, a fitting finale to the afternoon's celebrations. In addition, the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra will delight the audience with a special Disney medley.

A highlight of the evening will be the performance of an original composition by Kan, a Year 10 student at BST, who won the school’s Composition Competition. His work will be performed by the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra, marking a remarkable achievement for a young composer.

The school’s Jazz Band, Choirs, Orchestras and one of the rock bands will perform alongside the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra, while student soloists will sing I’ve Got You Under My Skin and The Long and Winding Road.

Mr Ian Clayton, Principal of BST said,

BST’s commitment to music education has long been recognised for its outstanding contribution to the arts, with students consistently excelling in instrumental and vocal performance. This milestone event underscores the school’s vision of fostering creativity, passion, and excellence through music education.

BST extends its deep gratitude to BST brass teacher Jonathan Hammill, whose dedication has been instrumental in organising this special event.

Founded in 1989, The British School in Tokyo currently provides world-class education to over 1,300 students representing over 60 nationalities aged 3 to 18 years old. It has 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.

The Tokyo Symphony Orchestra, together with music director Jonathan Nott, has been attracting attention as a leader in the Japanese orchestra world. Elektra in Concert Style 2023, won the 1st prize in the ‘Top 10 Concerts of 2023’ following the 2nd prize of Salome in Concert Style 2022 on Ongaku no Tomo magazine, as well as The Best Recording of Music Pen Club Japan Award for Opera & Orchestra category. The Tokyo Symphony Chorus, the Orchestra’s amateur chorus also won the prize for Chamber & Chorus category.

Highlights of past seasons with Mr. Nott include Symphony 9 by Beethoven live-streamed via 45 cameras, the most in history, and attracted nationwide attention; Gurre-Lieder by Schoenberg, celebrating 15th Anniversary of Muza Kawasaki Symphony Hall, TSO’s home, and Mozart’s Da Ponte Operas in concert style. In March 2020, the live-streamed concert (without an audience) on nico-nico live channel attracted more than 200,000 viewers across Japan, and has been a huge-hit in Japan.

Outside of Japan, the orchestra has performed 80 concerts in 58 cities since 1976. The Tokyo Symphony Orchestra was founded in 1946 as Toho Symphony Orchestra, and changed its name to the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra in April 1951. It has a reputation for giving first performances of a number of contemporary music and opera pieces, and has been regularly performing various operas and ballets at the New National Opera Theatre, Tokyo since its opening in 1997.