On June 9, internationally acclaimed conductor Osmo Vänskä visited Sophia University and led a special two-hour masterclass for members of the Sophia University Orchestra in a rehearsal room on the seventh floor of Building 11.

The masterclass was made possible through a professional connection established when Takao Kanayama, conductor of the Sophia University Orchestra, served as Assistant Conductor of the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington, D.C.

During the session, students received instruction on Brahms’s Symphony No. 1, which the orchestra is scheduled to perform at its regular concert on June 21. Of the orchestra’s more than 120 members, nearly 70—those performing the piece—participated in the masterclass.

Throughout the session, Vänskä provided detailed guidance on interpretation and expressive performance across the symphony. Students also received practical advice on musical structure, phrasing, and the interplay of sound within the ensemble.

At the conclusion of the session, Vänskä remarked, “It has been a great pleasure to make music with you, and I have gained a great deal of energy from the experience.” He also noted that the experience of playing an instrument would remain a valuable asset regardless of the fields students pursue in the future, underscoring the broader significance of engaging in music.

Drawing on what they learned in this masterclass, the Sophia University Orchestra will present its 122nd Regular Concert at Bunkyo Civic Hall on June 21. The performance will showcase the students’ growth and reflect the insights they gained through this experience.