On December 18, online voting by music fans began to select the program of the Second NEC Gala Concert. Votes can be cast until 17:00 on Tuesday, January 15, 2008. Presented by the Japan Association of Classical Music Presenters under the sponsorship of NEC Corp, the concert will be held from 14:00 on Saturday, March 15, at Hamarikyu Asahi Hall, in Tokyo.

The first concert in this unique series, which aims to promote classical music artists and increase the scale of classic concert audiences, was held on March 29, 2007 at Tokyo's Kioi Hall. Approximately 10,000 votes were cast to select the performing artists and their programs, signaling a high level of interest in the project. Expectations are high for this second concert in the series. (Recordings from the first concert can be heard at this site.)

The concert series is a part of the "NEC Navigates Japan's Classical Music Artists" project, one of the ways NEC supports culture and the arts. Its website (http://japansclassic.com/) profiles about 160 individual artists or ensembles who are now in the process of gaining widespread international recognition. Profiles of all ten artists competing for a place in the Second Gala Concert are included at the site.

Voting by music fans will be to select entrants and their respective proposed repertoires. Six artists (or five individual artists and one duo) will be selected from the ten entrants. The concert performers will consist of entrants in the first through fourth places in number of votes gained, plus two additional entrants selected by a committee from the entrants in the fifth place and below, on the basis of the overall concert program and other considerations. The entrants have proposed a total repertory of 43 musical works that cover a wide range, from Baroque to modern music. Each of the six artists (or duo) participating in the concert will be allotted about 25 minutes for a program of their own choice, providing that it includes the work among their repertoire that won the most votes.

Votes for the gala concert can be cast from the following page (only in Japanese).
http://www.classic.or.jp/gala08/

“Your Choice! The 2nd NEC Gala Concert”

*These concerts are a part of the "NEC Navigates Japan's Classical Music Artists" project, in accordance with the NEC Corp. policy of support for the arts and culture.

For further information, contact:
Japan Association of Classical Music Presenters
TEL +81 3 5719 7602 E-mail info@classic.or.jp
http://www.classic.or.jp/english/

♦"NEC Navigates Japan's Classical Music Artists" is a Japan based classical music website providing information in Japanese and English on rising stars on the international classical music scene. Management and operation is a joint effort of the Japan Association of Classical Music Presenters and NEC Corporation. Providing information on artists and a variety of topics in Japan's classical music industry, it is received by approximately 12,000 music agencies, offices and organizations. We continue to receive reports that international music competitions and events reported by this site are enjoying increased attendance. These efforts by the Japan Association of Classical Music Presenters and NEC Corporation are aimed at raising world recognition of Japanese artists and their music and helping them reach a wider audience around the world.

Gala Concert Entrants & Repertoires