女声合唱団「歌姫」
Female Choir "Utahime"
Japan
Since its founding in 1992, the troupe has been engaged in a variety of activities, including participation in competitions, holding solo and joint concerts, and overseas concert tours, with the aim of performing worthy of the name "UTAHIME". In past concerts, we invited Kenji Otani (1st), Ko Matsushita (2nd, 3rd, and 6th), and Noboru Kitagawa (5th) as guest conductors. Our commissioned works include “IYO NO HIMEUTA” for female chorus a capella,“A Happy Woman” for Female Chorus(composed by Ko Matsushita),and ”TENDER AND LONESOME ANGEL” Suite for Female Chorus(composed by Noboru Kitagawa), In recent years, under the guidance of conductor Motoi Kondo from Ehime, We have participated in the Vocal Ensemble Contest (2019) and the Tokyo International Choir Competition (Gold Prize in 2019 , Silver Prize in 2021 and Gold Prize in 2023). Last year, the group celebrated its 30th anniversary and held a commemorative concert - A Cappella Selection - which was well received.
近藤 基
Kondo was born in Ehime Prefecture, and is a graduate of Shinsyu University. He studied conducting under Nobutaka Masui, and choral conducting under Masao Nakamura. He began conducting while he was a member of the Shinsyu University Mixed Choir, and was greatly influenced by Shin Sekiya. Upon graduation, he continued with his musical activities, mainly in the Nagano area. Kondo is currently the assistant conductor of BärenChor, resident conductor of Ensemble Lumine, conductor‐in‐residence of the Shinsyu University Glee Club, ensemble trainer of the Shinsyu University Mixed Choir, and resident conductor of female Choir "UTAHIME" . A member of the JCDA (Japan Choral Directors Association) and vice executive director of Nagano-Chushin Chorus Association.
