| A Composer and a Conductor; Born and raised in Tokyo; Graduated top of his class from the Kunitachi College of Music, Department of Composition; Finished his Chorus Conductor master course at Kodály Institute in Kecskemét, Hungary; Studied under Yuzuru Shimaoka, Koichi Uzaki, Thomas Meyer-Fiebig, Mohay Miklo’s for composing, Late Reményi János, Erdei Péter for chorus conducting, Masamitsu Takahashi for orchestral conducting, and Somoriai Paula for singing. Mr Ko Matsushita is taking multifaceted approaches with choral music by composing, conducting and teaching. He composes and arranges choral pieces, which are performed not only in Japan but all around the world. He has dedicated his works to American, Hungarian, Spanish, Norwegian, Latvian, Polish, Dutch, Taiwanese, Singaporean, Chinese and Japanese choirs and ensembles. Mr Matsushita's works are performed by a large number of choirs from all over the world.
He also acts as resident conductor and artistic director of 10 choirs, which perform both in Japan and abroad, achieving excellent reports in competitions they participate in.Recently, one of his choir, Chamber choir "Vox Gaudiosa" won the Grand Prix international competition "Concorso Polifonico Internazionale Guido d'Arezzo 2011" in Italy and the choir was a finalist of The European Grand Prix for Choral Singing 2012. From around the world he receives many invitations to act as a guest conduct, judge competitions and teach in choral lectures and workshops. In 2010, he became guest conductor of Beijing University Student Choir.
Furthermore, he has won best conductor’s award and prizes for superior composition in various international competitions. In 2005, Mr Matsushita became the first Asian to receive the “Robert Edler Prize for Choral Music”. This award is bestowed on the best conductor, composer, or choir for their extraordinary endeavors throughout that year around the globe.
He is a jury Member of the Japan Choral Association, NHK (Japan Broadcasting Association) School Choir competition, JCA(Japan Choral Association) National Choir Competition, Singapore Youth Festival 2007, Hongkong Youth Choir Competition 2008, Sighezzi International Choral Competition in Italy 2008, Tolosa International Choral Competition in Spain 2009 and 2010 and Florilège vocal de Tours in France 2011. He is the author of a Junior High School music textbook published by Kyoiku Publishing. Additionally, he is a board member of the Tokyo Choral Association. And he is a member of the Japan Choral Directors Association, The Japanese Society for the Rights of Authors, Composers and Publishers, Japan Composers and Arrangers Association, The Japan Kodaly Society and the International Kodaly Society. And he is a representative of the Workshop of the Choral Expression. |
