Pacific Music Festival

Overview

The Pacific Music Festival Sapporo (PMF) is an international educational music festival founded in 1990 by Leonard Bernstein, the renowned American conductor and composer of West Side Story. The name Pacific carries dual meanings of the Pacific Ocean and peace, reflecting Bernstein's vision of contributing to world peace through music education. Each summer, the festival runs for roughly three weeks to a month in Sapporo, where selected young musicians from around the world receive instruction from top-tier faculty and present their progress in public concerts.

PMF is recognized as one of the three major educational music festivals in the world, along with the Tanglewood Music Festival in the United States and the Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival in Germany. Since its inception, it has produced approximately 3,900 musicians from 79 countries and regions. The main venue is the Sapporo Concert Hall Kitara, renowned for its exceptional acoustics, while performances also occur at the Sapporo Art Park outdoor stage, various locations across Hokkaido, and Tokyo. The core educational program, the PMF Academy, offers an intensive short-term curriculum where participants refine their orchestral and chamber music skills while fostering international exchange.

History and Origin

Leonard Bernstein, celebrated for his compositions and conducting, devoted his later years to the education of young musicians. In 1990, he traveled to Sapporo with the London Symphony Orchestra and founded the Pacific Music Festival. However, Bernstein passed away on October 14 of the same year, only three months after founding the festival, casting doubt on the festival's continuation beyond its first edition.

On December 31, 1990, at a memorial concert for Bernstein in New York, the then-mayor of Sapporo, Takeshi Itagaki, declared that the city would carry on Bernstein's legacy. This decision ensured the festival's survival in Sapporo. Itagaki's declaration marked a historic turning point that secured the continuation of PMF, laying the foundation for Bernstein's ideals of peace through music education to be passed on to future generations.

Since then, PMF has grown into an annual international educational music festival. Bernstein's educational philosophy, which emphasizes not only technical skill but also mutual understanding between young people from different cultures and backgrounds, has been preserved. From the 1990s through the 2000s, the number of participating countries and the scale of concerts expanded, and PMF established partnerships with major music festivals worldwide.

In June 2019 the official name was changed to Pacific Music Festival Sapporo, adding the name of the host city to the festival itself. Today, PMF has established itself as a leading educational music festival in Asia. The message of peace across the Pacific that Bernstein envisioned is renewed each summer by approximately 100 academy students. Through concerts and community outreach activities, they continue to demonstrate the power of music.

Highlights

PMF Academy The core educational program of PMF, the Academy runs for about one month each summer. Academy students receive direct instruction from world-class faculty, including string players from the Vienna Philharmonic, wind and percussion players from the Berlin Philharmonic, and principal players from major North American orchestras. This environment provides practical learning opportunities rarely available at ordinary music schools, enabling participants to achieve remarkable growth in a short period. Rehearsals and private lessons are centered at the Sapporo Concert Hall Kitara, whose superior acoustics enhance the learning experience.

PMF Orchestra Concerts Selected academy members form the PMF Orchestra and perform full-scale concerts under the baton of the chief conductor. The repertoire ranges from classical to contemporary works, with concerts held at Kitara mainly on weekends during the festival period. These concerts serve as the culmination of the academy students' efforts, demanding professional-level performance. Audiences witness the moment when young talents from around the world come together to create a unified ensemble.

Picnic Concert Held at the outdoor stage of Sapporo Art Park, this open-air concert extends from midday to dusk. Audiences can lie on the grass, eat, and drink while freely enjoying the music. This format was designed to make classical music accessible to newcomers and families, including those who might feel intimidated by formal concert halls. Free entry and exit are permitted, and even babies are welcome, offering a unique PMF experience of relaxing in nature while immersed in music.

PMF GALA Concert Held at Kitara toward the end of the festival period, this is a festive celebratory concert. The name GALA, derived from the French word for celebration, reflects the program's extended length and variety, with multiple conductors and soloists performing a diverse selection of pieces. Many audience members dress formally, creating a celebratory atmosphere. This concert is the culmination of PMF, where academy students and faculty together celebrate the joy of music.

Link-Up Concert Based on Link Up, the music education program for elementary school students developed by Carnegie Hall in New York, this program has been held since 2013. Sixth-graders from Sapporo municipal elementary schools, who have studied the recorder and songs in class beforehand, perform together with the PMF Orchestra, guided by video and a host. Members of the public are also welcome to watch the children take part. The program extends the educational mission of PMF into the Sapporo community and cultivates the soil in which future performers grow, and for many of the children it is their first encounter with a full orchestra at close range.

Host City Orchestra Concert The Sapporo Symphony Orchestra, as the host city orchestra, performs alongside PMF faculty and academy students. Founded in 1961, the Sapporo Symphony is a professional orchestra that serves as a vital partner in PMF's operations. This concert offers a rare opportunity to enjoy the fusion of international artists and the local orchestra, showcasing the high standard of Sapporo's musical culture.

Free and Community Outreach Concerts PMF organizes outreach concerts such as the Volunteer Concert (now called Minamina Concert), and sends musicians to hospitals, welfare facilities, and schools where people normally have limited access to live performances. These activities embody Bernstein's ideal of music for everyone, demonstrating that PMF is not merely a music festival but also a platform for social contribution.

Event Information and Access

• Period: Typically held for about 21 days from early July to late July. The latest schedule and availability should be confirmed on the official website.
• Main Venue: Sapporo Concert Hall Kitara (located in Nakajima Park, Chuo-ku, Sapporo). This hall is internationally acclaimed as a dedicated classical music venue.
• Other Venues: Sapporo Art Park (outdoor stage), various halls in Sapporo, locations across Hokkaido, and Suntory Hall in Tokyo.
• Access (Kitara): About 7 minutes on foot from Exit 3 of Nakajima Koen Station on the Sapporo Municipal Subway Namboku Line, or about 7 minutes from Exit 1 of Horohirabashi Station. The hall is also about 4 minutes on foot from the Nakajima Koen-dori streetcar stop. Public transportation is recommended due to limited parking.
• Official Website: https://www.pmf.or.jp/ provides the latest program, ticket information, and concert schedules.
• Organizers: The festival is organized by the Pacific Music Festival Organizing Committee together with the City of Sapporo, and co-organized by the Sapporo Cultural Arts Foundation, which operates Sapporo Concert Hall Kitara.
• Inquiries: Contact the Pacific Music Festival Organizing Committee (phone 011-242-2211) or use the inquiry form on the official website.
• Tickets: Major concerts are ticketed, and some programs such as the Link-Up Concert are offered at modest prices. For selected concerts, Youth Wing seats are provided free of charge to audiences aged 25 and under, from elementary school students upward. Tickets are sold through the official website and major ticket agencies.

Surrounding Area

Sapporo Concert Hall Kitara is located within Nakajima Park, a green oasis in the city center with ponds and walking paths. Visitors can enjoy a stroll in the park between concerts, exploring the Japanese garden, tea house, and the Hokkaido Museum of Literature. Many concertgoers take a walk through the park before or after performances to savor the musical experience.

Sapporo's summer, with average temperatures around 20 degrees Celsius, is pleasant and ideal for sightseeing. Odori Park hosts seasonal events, and the Sapporo TV Tower offers panoramic views. The Tanukikoji Shopping Arcade and the Sapporo Central Wholesale Market are popular spots for enjoying local cuisine. Combining PMF concerts with a visit to the Sapporo Summer Festival street stalls, a local summer tradition, is a common delight.

Sapporo is renowned for its ramen culture, particularly miso ramen, as well as Genghis Khan (grilled lamb) and fresh seafood. For international participants and visitors, experiencing Hokkaido's food alongside the music enriches the festival experience. During the festival period, restaurants around Kitara bustle with activity day and night.

Related Information

• World's Three Major Educational Music Festivals: PMF is recognized alongside the Tanglewood Music Festival (founded 1940, USA) and the Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival (founded 1986, Germany) as a leading educational music festival. All three focus on nurturing young musicians with world-class faculty.
• Leonard Bernstein: Founder of PMF, legendary composer, and conductor. His educational philosophy remains the festival's core.
• Sapporo Symphony Orchestra: Professional orchestra established in 1961, which in recent years has performed as PMF's host city orchestra. It is a central pillar of Sapporo's musical culture.
• PMF Organizing Committee: Officially the Pacific Music Festival Organizing Committee, a public interest incorporated foundation that organizes the festival together with the City of Sapporo to ensure the festival's continuity and development.
• Sapporo Concert Hall Kitara: Opened in 1997 as a dedicated classical music venue, internationally praised for its acoustic design. It is the main venue for PMF.
• Other Music Festivals in Sapporo: The city hosts additional summer music events, such as the Sapporo International Music Festival, offering diverse genres across various venues.

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