THE GEIDAI PHILHARMONIA ORCHESTRA, TOKYO
The Geidai Philharmonia Orchestra, Tokyo is a professional orchestra made up of Music Performance Instructors. It is an organization established under the umbrella of Tokyo University of the Arts, and its history can be traced back to 1898, when it was first organized by Tokyo Music School, the predecessor of the present-day Faculty of Music. The Geidai Philharmonia Orchestra, Tokyo holds a number of concerts every year through occasions such as the Regular Concerts in the spring and fall, the performance of orchestral works with chorus collaborating with the Department of Vocal Music, the joint concert with the Opera Society of the university, and the annual spring concert featuring graduates from the previous academic year （the top student from each department）. Handelʼs Messiah and Beethovenʼs Symphony No. 9 are annually performed in December. Furthermore, the orchestra tours around Japan to promote music culture across the country.
To fulfill the universityʼs educational missions, The Geidai Philharmonia Orchestra, Tokyo is committed to providing students with opportunities to enhance their performance experience; students of the Department of Instrumental Music and the Department of Vocal Music are invited to perform a concerto at the Morning Concert, where the works by students of the Department of Composition are occasionally introduced, and students of the Department of Conducting play the role of conductor at concerts, examinations and seminars organized by the orchestra. In particular, the Morning Concert, which has been presented regularly since 1971, is a globally unique project with a high standard of the quality of performing students and a generous rehearsal time with the orchestra.
The predecessor of the orchestra, Tokyo Music School Orchestra, was the first full orchestra formed in Japan, and it was this orchestra that premiered the worldʼs most renowned pieces such as Beethovenʼs Symphony No. 5 （“Fate”）and Symphony No. 9 （“Choral”）, and Tchaikovskyʼs Symphony No. 6 （“Pathetique”） in Japan. Thus, it has served as a foundation for the Japanese music community.
The name of the orchestra has changed several times. It had been called “the Orchestra Society” until the 1980s, when the new name “The Geidai Philharmonia” was proposed by the Canadian conductor Victor FELDBRILL, with a view to expanding the range of its activities beyond the campus and providing more opportunities for the public to be familiarized with orchestral music. In November 2016, the name was revised as The Geidai Philharmonia Orchestra, Tokyo.
In June 2017, The Geidai Philharmonia Orchestra, Tokyo gave four performances at the commemorative concert celebrating the 120th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic relations between Japan and Chile, and in December 2023, the orchestra performed at Teatro Colón in Argentina. All performances received favorable reviews. In December 2024, the orchestra undertook the recording of a CD of Beethovenʼs violin concerto together with violinist Gérard Poulet.
An associate member of Association of Japanese Symphony Orchestra.
