Hiroshima Wind Orchestra

Hiroshima Wind Orchestra

Hiroshima Wind Orchestra (HWO) was formed in 1993 by professional musicians in Hiroshima to share the splendor of wind music and to spread the message of peace through music. HWO performed its 1st regular concert in October of the same year. Since then, HWO has held two regular concerts annually, and has continued to expand its activities through local events such as school concerts and public concerts. The orchestra has also accepted requests to perform at events both inside and outside of Hiroshima Prefecture. The 11th regular concert in 1999 was performed as part of the "August in Hiroshima" World Music Festival. In 2003, HWO released "The Hounds of Spring", the first CD in its Band Classics Library (Brain Music) series. This long-selling series is still available today, and includes a total of 12 CDs produced through 2009. During its 20th regular concert, which also marked the orchestra's 10th anniversary, HWO held a UNICEF Charity Event for Refugees. In 2011, Tatsuya Shimono became the orchestra's music director, and implemented an ambitious program that focused on Japanese works and the pursuit of an artistic repertoire. "Symphony for Wind Orchestra / Bin Kaneda", Mr. Shimono's inaugural CD with HWO, garnered attention as a "Special Selection" by The Record Geijutsu magazine, and won the Ongaku No Tomo Sha 49th Record Academy Award for "Wind Music, Special Category". HWO has also been awarded the "23rd Academy Award, Performance Category" from the Japan Academic Society of Wind Music, the 35th Hiroshima Culture Award, and the 2014 Hiroshima Citizens' Award. With its supple and beautiful sounds, and an ambitious program, Hiroshima Wind Orchestra has garnered attention from various quarters. We will continue to take great strides that go beyond what is normally expected from a wind orchestra, leading our audiences to the discovery of new possibilities.