Biographie
He began his conducting career at age 26, after winning the first Kondrashin International Conducting Competition in Amsterdam. The jury included distinguished international musicians Bernard Haitink and Vladimir Ashkenazy, who subsequently invited Hirokami to conduct during a 1985 concert tour in Japan with the NHK Symphony Orchestra. Since 1990, he has conducted major orchestras in Europe, including the Concertgebouw, London Symphony Orchestra, London Philharmonic, Royal Philharmonic, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Israel Philharmonic, the Oslo and Stockholm philharmonics, the Vienna Symphony, Barcelona Symphony Orchestra, Madrid Symphony Orchestra, Gewandhaus Orchestra Leipzig, Orchestra National de Paris, Slovenian Philharmonic and Verdi Orchestra Milan. Hirokami launched his North American career from 1996 and conducted in Toronto, Cincinnati, LA, Dallas, Baltimore, Columbus, Denver, Detroit, Fort Worth, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, Ottawa, Pittsburgh, St Louis, Seattle, Vancouver, Winnipeg, Calgary, and Charlotte. Junichi Hirokami's career has involved a number of high profile positions including Chief Conductor of Norrkoping Symphony Orchestra, Chief Conductor of Limburg Symphony Orchestra, Principal Guest Conductor of the Royal Liverpoor Philharmonic and Music Director of Columbus Symphony Orchestra in the States. From 2008 Junichi Hirokami has been leading Kyoto Symphony Orchestra as Chief Conductor.
