Festa Summer MUZA KAWASAKI 2025
Summer Muza at Shin-Yurigaoka
Pacific Philharmonia Tokyo

Norichika Iimori graduated from the conducting course of the Toho Gakuen School of Music. After studying in Berlin and Munich, beginning in 1994 he held successive posts including Resident Conductor of the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra, Guest Conductor of the Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra of Moscow Radio, and Resident Conductor of the Hiroshima Symphony Orchestra. In 1996 he led the European tour of the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra and was lauded in a newspaper which said, "Iimori will surely go on to attract international attention." In 2003, in his first appearance in a subscription concert of the NHK Symphony Orchestra, Iimori conducted a successful performance of Mahler's 1st Symphony. In 2006 he was awarded the "Art Encouragement Prize for New Artists" from the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. Iimori has been invited to conduct many world-class orchestras including the Radio Symphony Orchestra Frankfurt, Cologne Radio Symphony Orchestra, Czech Philharmonic, and Prague Symphony Orchestra. In 2001 he became General Music Director of the Württemberg Philharmonic Orchestra, with which he recorded the complete Beethoven Symphonies and carried out a successful Japan tour in 2006.

In 2016 Iimori recorded "Mozart: The Complete Symphonies" with the Yamagata Symphony Orchestra, one of the few recordings of the composer's complete symphonies in the world and the first in Japan. He also maked a recording of "The Complete Haydn Symphonies" with the Japan Century Symphony Orchestra.

Iimori has also been acclaimed for his work in the field of opera. In October 2020 he conducted Britten's opera "A Midsummer Nights Dream," the season opening performance at Tokyo's New National Theatre, receiving excellent reviews for this highly successful production. In 2024 he conducted two operas: Mozart's "Cosi Fan Tutte" at the New National Theatre, Tokyo, and the Fujiwara Opera production of Donizetti's "Pia de' Tolomei."

Currently, Norichika Iimori is Music Director of the Pacific Philharmonia Tokyo, Chief Conductor of the Gunma Symphony Orchestra, Conductor Laureate of the Yamagata Symphony Orchestra, Permanent Conductor of the Izumi Sinfonietta Osaka, Principal Guest Conductor of the Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra, and Principal Guest Conductor of the Chubu Philharmonic Orchestra.

Official Website: http://iimori-norichika.com/

From Japan, Mai Suzuki is recognized as one of the leading violinists of her generation. A distinguished soloist, she has won numerous prestigious international competitions, including first prize at the Václav Huml International Violin Competition (Zagreb) and the Orpheus Swiss Chamber Music Competition (Basel).

After graduating from Tokyo University of the Arts (Tokyo Geidai), she pursued advanced studies at the Haute École de Musique de Lausanne, Salzburg Mozarteum, and Hochschule für Musik und Theater München, under the guidance of renowned professors Pierre Amoyal and Ingolf Turban.

Mai has performed with esteemed orchestras worldwide, including the Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestre de Chambre de Lausanne, Moravian Philharmonic Orchestra, Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra, and Tokyo Symphony Orchestra, collaborating with celebrated conductors such as Jorma Panula, Ivan Repušić, and Kenichiro Kobayashi.

Her artistry has been showcased at iconic venues such as Suntory Hall (Tokyo), Hercules Hall (Munich), and Santa Ursula Auditorium (Lima). In 2017, she released her debut CD, Mai Favorite, featuring works by Beethoven and Massenet, recorded with the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra.

Mai recorded Franck and Lekeu's sonatas with distinguished pianist Akimi Fukuhara for her next album, which is released in March 2025.

Mai performs on a rare 1683 Nicolo Amati violin, a masterpiece of the 17th century, lending her performances an exquisite and timeless quality.

Born in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka, she joined Nippon Television Network Corporation after graduating from Sophia University's Faculty of Foreign Studies. She has served several important roles as a moderator in a variety of TV programs including 24-Hour Television, Law Country, and Zoom In!! Asa!, She also has reported on the Olympics as a local anchor. Since 2009, she has prospered her career as a freelance announcer and served a moderator of the TV program “Kyoukasyo ni Nosetai” hosted by Tokyo Broadcasting System Television. In addition to showing up on television, she has expanded her activities into various genres and serving different roles such as a member of the selection committee for The Hochi Film Award, moderator and narrator of classical music concerts, and a guest professor of Senzoku Gakuen College of Music.