Osaka Municipal Symphonic Band

Osaka Municipal Symphonic Band (大阪市音楽団)
Also known as	Shion (市音?)
Origin	Osaka, Osaka, Japan
Years active	1 June 1923–present
Website	www.shion.jp
Members
General Music Director Toshihiro Shimanuki Assistant Music Director Hiroaki Nobuhara Special Conductor & Music Adviser Kazuyoshi Akiyama Principal Guest Conductor Kazuhiko Komatsu Concert Master Toshikazu Nagase

The Osaka Municipal Symphonic Band (大阪市音楽団, Ōsaka-shi Ongakudan^?, abbreviated OMSB), also known as Shion (市音) is a professional concert band based in Osaka, Japan. OMSB was established in 1923, which is the longest running wind orchestra in Japan. OMSB is under the direct management of the city of Osaka, and is the only concert band that administrated by a local government in Japan.

History

The origin of OMSB is the Imperial Japanese Army 4th Division Band (大日本帝国陸軍第4師団軍楽隊, Dai-Nippon Teikoku Rikugun Daiyon Shidan Gungakutai^?) founded in 1888.

The IJA Fourth Division Band

• February 28, 1888 - The attachment of the Third Military Band to the Osaka Garrison was determined.
• March 6, 1888 - The bandmaster and a fifty-piece military band took up their duties.
• May 14, 1888 - With the reorganization of the military system, the Osaka Garrison has been abolished and the fourth division was formed.
• March 25, 1923 - The 4th Division Band has disbanded due to disarmament. The farewell concert was held at the Tennouji Music Hall.

Osaka Municipal Symphonic Band

• June 1, 1923 - Volunteers who were the former band members established Osaka Music Band (大阪市音楽隊, Ōsaka-shi Ongakutai^?). They managed the band under the membership system in those days. Funds for management were depended on a subsidy from Osaka city and earnings from requested performances.
• April 1, 1934 - OMSB came under the direct management of the city of Osaka, and all the members of OMSB became city officials.
• June 22, 1946 - The band name has renamed as Osaka Municipal Symphonic Band (大阪市音楽団, Ōsaka-shi Ongakudan^?).
• Since 1962 - OMSB has taken charge of recordings of an entrance march for the National High School Baseball Invitational Tournament every year.

Conductors

• Hong-Jae Kim (1991 - 1994 Principal Conductor)
• Heinz Friesen (1995 - 1998 Principal Conductor)
• Shunsaku Tsutsumi (1998 - 2002　Artistic Adviser, Principal Conductor)
• Kazumasa Watanabe (2001 - 2002 Principal Guest Conductor)
• Kazuyoshi Akiyama (2003 - Special Conductor, Artistic Adviser)
• Kazuhiko Komatsu (2007 - Principal Guest Conductor)

External links

• Osaka Municipal Symphonic Band official site (Japanese) (English)