Since 2008, based on its founding principle of coexistence and mutual prosperity, UBE has hosted the UBE Classical Concert, inviting the Japan Philharmonic Orchestra to Ube City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, where the Company was founded. The concert is held with the aim of contributing to the development of local culture through music.
19th UBE Classical Concert
Prior to the 19th UBE Classical Concert, Moné Hattori, the violinist who will perform as the soloist, and Yuki Nishida, UBE president and CEO, participated in a special talk.
They exchanged views on their respective experiences and perspectives, as well as their hopes for the next generation.
Special Talk Between Violinist Moné Hattori and UBE President Yuki Nishida
UBE Classical Concert
To contribute to local music culture and help nurture the next generation, UBE has invited the Japan Philharmonic Orchestra to perform a classical music concert at Ube City Watanabe Memorial Hall in Ube, Yamaguchi every year since 2008.
This concert features an original program in which UBE, as the host company, is involved in selecting and organizing the musical pieces to be performed. Employees work together from the planning stage through operations on the day of the event, creating a special opportunity where the values of the local community and the Company come together. The concert is also supported through collaboration among private organizations, local governments, and public interest organizations, and it is made possible through the cooperation of the entire community. (Host: UBE Corporation / Co-hosts: Watanabe Memorial Culture Association, Ube Music Appreciation Society, Ube City Foundation for Culture and Art Creation / Supporters: Ube City, Ube City Board of Education, Ube Nippo, tys TV Yamaguchi, FM Yamaguchi, FM Kirara)
In addition, Libertas Ube, Ltd., a UBE Group company, invites persons with disabilities to attend the dress rehearsal (the final rehearsal conducted in full before the performance) of the concert with the cooperation of the Ube City Council of Social Welfare. This initiative is intended to provide an opportunity to experience the joy of music for those who may feel uneasy about attending the main performance.
While continuing the basic concept of “Together with the Community, Together with Music,” in 2022 we significantly renewed the concert as a next-generation music culture promotion project with a greater focus on children’s education. As part of this initiative, we invite elementary and junior high school students from the cities of Ube, Sanyo-Onoda, and Mine to attend the concert free of charge, hoping to inspire them to take an interest in classical music. In addition, all proceeds from ticket sales are donated to promote local music culture, and since the first concert we have continuously donated musical instruments to support junior high school brass bands. We will continue implementing initiatives to support the enhancement of music culture.
On the day before the concert, we hold our annual Friendship Concert at a hospital, providing patients with an opportunity to experience the healing power of music. We also hold a free “Lobby Concert” at the Ube City Hall Civic Center to provide an opportunity to enjoy music for members of the local community.
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The Friendship concert
(at Yamaguchi University Hospital) -
The Friendship concert
(at the Ube City Hall's Civic Center)
Music clinic
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On the day before the UBE Classical Concert, instructors from the Japan Philharmonic Orchestra conduct a “Music Clinic” for brass band students at junior high schools in Ube City. The program is held in classrooms and gymnasiums and provides students with instruction on their instruments. It is organized by the Watanabe Memorial Culture Association with the cooperation of UBE Corporation.
Comments from Students
- I learned how to produce a better sound and how to play more musically, so I was happy that I was able to perform well in the joint concert after the clinic. (Horn, second-year junior high school student)
- I had never been able to play high notes before, but after the instruction, I was able to do so for the first time. I was very satisfied. (Trumpet, first-year junior high school student)
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History of UBE Classical Concert
| 1st Concert (2008) | As a social contribution activity for the local community, UBE launched the Ube Industries Group Charity Concert at Ube City Watanabe Memorial Hall, which was built to commemorate the achievements of the Company’s founder, Sukesaku Watanabe. The first concert was held as a summer family concert, and from the following year the event was held as an autumn classical concert. |
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| 2nd to 9th Concerts | UBE presented the Composer Series as its original program. |
| 4th Concert (2011) | Approximately 500 elementary and junior high school students in Ube City, including parents and accompanying teachers, were invited to attend the dress rehearsal free of charge through the Ube City Board of Education. From the 10th concert onward, this initiative was replaced by invitations to the main performance and other programs. |
| 5th Concert (2012) | Approximately 50 children with disabilities were invited to the dress rehearsal, in addition to the elementary and junior high school students who had been invited previously. |
| 10th Concert (2017) | As a special program marking the 10th concert, participants were selected by lottery from among concert ticket purchasers. Sixty people were invited to an “Orchestra Talk and Instrument Experience” program, and 100 people were invited to attend the dress rehearsal. In addition, approximately 100 junior high school students in Ube City were invited to the main performance free of charge. |
| 11th Concert (2018) | UBE continued its initiative to invite approximately 100 junior high school students in Ube City to the main performance free of charge. |
| 12th Concert (2019) | A signing session was held with the soloist, Mr. Kotaro Fukuma (piano). |
| 13th Concert (2020) | The concert was held with thorough measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Attendance was limited to 20% of venue capacity, and two performances were held, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. |
| 14th Concert (2021) | The concert was held with thorough measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19, with attendance limited to 50% of venue capacity. |
| 15th Concert (2022) | In conjunction with the Company’s name change to UBE Corporation, the concert was renamed the UBE Classical Concert. The concert was conducted by Mr. Eiji Oue and featured Ms. Miki Kobayashi (violin) as the soloist. Invitations to the main performance for elementary and junior high school students were expanded to include the cities of Ube, Sanyo-Onoda, and Mine. |
| 16th Concert (2023) | The concert was conducted by Mr. Junichi Hirokami and featured Ms. Rio Arai (violin) as the soloist. Mr. Hirokami had also conducted the 13th concert, which was held under COVID-19 prevention measures. |
| 17th Concert (2024) | The concert was conducted by Mr. Takeshi Oi and featured Ms. Ayako Takagi (flute) as the soloist. This was the first time a flutist had performed as the concert’s soloist. |
| 18th Concert (2025) | The concert was conducted by Mr. Toshiaki Umeda and featured Mr. Sekisai Nobusue (horn) as the soloist. This was the first time a horn player had performed as the concert’s soloist. |
| 19th Concert (2026) | The concert will be conducted by Mr. Kazufumi Yamashita and will feature violinist Ms. Moné Hattori as the soloist. The program will include Brahms’s Violin Concerto and Symphony No. 1. |