By Curtis Patterson, Musician and Former YIS Educator
This past summer, seven elementary students and ten students from Grades 6-10 participated in the Fukuyama All Japan Elementary and Junior High School Koto Competition, held in Hiroshima. It was wonderful to have strong family support, with one or both parents, and many siblings, traveling alongside. In total, about 50 supporters joined, creating a warm and encouraging atmosphere. Special thanks go to Mr. Bobby Griffin, who now leads Japanese Music at YIS, and to alumni Kae, Mari, Miu, and Kensuke, who also made the trip and provided additional support.
Solo Success in the Preliminaries
Preliminaries for the solo divisions took place on Saturday morning. Both of our elementary soloists Kei and Kouki as well as three middle school students, Yuuki, Yuna, and Erik, advanced to the finals on Sunday.
Ensemble Highlights
Following the solo finals, the ensemble competitions began. Our elementary group of seven students—Kei, Raya, Haruka, Jessica, Kouki, Kenzo, and Kana—earned the Silver Award (2nd place) for their performance of Ryu-Ryu by Sawai Hikaru. Their commitment throughout the spring, along with extra rehearsals in June and July, paid off. The ensemble was praised for their expressive dynamics, bringing the music vividly to life.
The middle school ensemble—Kokona, Lana, Anna, Daniel, Ayumi, Chisa, Erik, Kiwa, Yuna and Yuuki—performed Koto2 (Koto-Koto) by Yoshimura Hiroshi. After multiple summer rehearsals, the group delivered a polished performance, showcasing skillful execution of the piece’s intricate rhythms. While the competition was fierce, with ten other middle school ensembles performing at a high level, our students came away with pride in their thorough preparation and strong stage presence.
Standout Solo Performances
YIS was especially proud to be represented by such exceptional solo performances. Of the five YIS students in the finals, four received awards.
- Kouki impressed the judges with his performance of Midare, a classical work from the 17th century, earning the Gold Award (1st prize) in the elementary division.
- Yuuki received the Bronze Award (3rd prize) in the middle school division for his rendition of Shaei.
- Yuna (Arabesque) and Erik (Gaku) were each recognized with Honorable Mention awards.
A Lasting Experience
As in years past, the trip was filled with anticipation and excitement. Students had the chance to shine individually while contributing to their ensembles, strengthening bonds not only among themselves but also with families, alumni, and instructors. Experiences like this continue to play a vital role in the success of the Japanese Music Program at YIS. Under the leadership of Mr. Griffin, classroom instruction and performance opportunities will further inspire students to keep Japanese Music a dynamic and meaningful part of the YIS community.
