Soma Children's Orchestra and Chorus

Any member of the Soma Children’s Orchestra can learn conducting. This year, the orchestra will have a primary school student conductor after several years. And also, she is the first female conductor in the orchestra’s history.

The person taking up the challenge of conducting is Meina (6th grade), from the violin section.

In preparation for the Children’s Music Festival in this coming March, Maestro Yusuke Kimoto asked a few people if anyone would like to learn conducting. Before he could finish asking, Meina answered “I want to” with a twinkle in her eyes.

Since last August, she has been receiving special private lessons every month from Mr.Kimoto. “From the basics on how to hold the baton to what fundamental patterns and movements which every condoctor should master, she has made 120% of what I taught her own”, says, Mr.Kimoto. Above all, she is very motivated and is making steady progress.

In November, she had a chance to conduct some movements from the assigned piece, Serenade for Strings by Norman Leyden, with the members of the orchestra's advanced class.

Of course there were some things that did not go well as it was her first time conducting a large group of people, but Mr. Kimoto provided detailed support alongside her and the senior members were very cooperative in their performances, making the lesson a great learning experience for Meina.

She has a clear idea of what she wants to do, has a talent for communicating it to others without fear, and says “I enjoy conducting!”. Even on days when she does not have conducting lessons, she always carries her conductor’s baton with her.

We are really looking forward to the next three months of her development.