Draft:Kunito Nishitani

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Kunito Nishitani
西谷 国登
西谷国登氏の演奏写真
Nishitani in 2024
Born (1983-02-05) February 5, 1983 (age 42)
Tokyo, Japan
Occupation(s)Violinist, conductor, music educator, author
Years active2002–present
Websitenkunito.com

Kunito Nishitani (西谷 国登 (Nishitani Kunito), born 5 February 1983) is a Japanese violinist, conductor, educator and author.[1][2] He is founder and music director of the Shakujii International Orchestra and the Kunito International Youth Orchestra, and is known for his violin method books and his promotion of music entrepreneurship in Japan.[3]

Early life and education

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Nishitani was born in Tokyo, Japan. He moved to the United States in 2002 to study at Portland State University, receiving scholarships for four consecutive years.[1] He later attended the graduate program at New York University on a special scholarship for international students.[2] He studied violin under Chikashi Tanaka, Carol Sindell and Martin Beaver, and conducting under Kazuye Kamiya and Keith Clark.[1]

Career

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In 2013 Nishitani founded the Shakujii International Orchestra and the Kunito International Youth Orchestra.[1] He also established the Kunito International String School (KISS), where he teaches violin and chamber music.[1] He is a member of the Japan String Teachers Association (JASTA) and the Nerima Ward Musicians Association.[1]

Nishitani has performed as a soloist and recitalist in Japan and abroad, including at the University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign, Western Illinois University, and the Michigan City Chamber Music Festival.[2] He regularly appears at Tokyo’s Hamarikyu Asahi Hall and produces online concerts and lectures via YouTube.[1] In 2024 he performed the Brahms Violin Concerto with the Beaverton Symphony Orchestra in Oregon, United States.[4][5] His performances have also been noted in Oregon cultural media such as Oregon ArtsWatch.[6]

He has given lectures on musician branding, career development and entrepreneurship, and has served as a judge for the Japan Classical Music Competition and the Cecilia International Music Competition.[2]

Selected performances

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  • September 2012 – 4th Solo Recital (Japanese debut recital)[1]
  • May 2014 – 5th Solo Recital, Hamarikyu Asahi Hall[1]
  • June 2016 – Collaboration with Rudolf Haken at the 3rd Shakujii Int’l Orchestra concert[1]
  • April 2017 – Recital at University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign[2]
  • 2022 – 10th Solo Recital at Hamarikyu Asahi Hall (Bruch and Saint-Saëns Violin Concertos, string orchestra arrangement)[1]
  • 2024 – Brahms Violin Concerto with Beaverton Symphony Orchestra (Oregon) and Canolata Orchestra (Nagano Prefecture)[4]

Lectures and masterclasses

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  • April 2017 – Lecture “Music Entrepreneur” at University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign and Western Illinois University[1]
  • 2020 – Lecture-concerts and masterclasses at Western Illinois University, Neuqua Valley High School and North Central College[1]
  • October 2022 – Masterclass at Western Illinois University[1]
  • February 2025 – “Make Your Dreams Come True” youth lecture at Sekimachiko Library, Nerima, Tokyo[1]

Media appearances

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Nishitani has been featured on radio programmes such as FM Salus and television shows including TV Asahi’s “Sore Sori Mishiru Siru Dee” (2011).[1] He has been interviewed in the string music magazine Sarasaate and other publications.[7] He was also featured in an interview on All Classical Radio, an Oregon-based NPR affiliate station, during his 2024 U.S. concert tour.[8] He hosts a podcast titled “KUNITO’s Podcast! Nishitani Kunito / Takano Zank” and produces a YouTube series titled “Why Practice the Violin!?”[1]

Awards

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  • 2016 – Outstanding Instructor Award, 25th Japan Classical Music Competition[1]
  • 2017 – Outstanding Instructor Award, 26th Japan Classical Music Competition[1]
  • 2019–2024 – Consecutive Outstanding Instructor Awards, Japan Classical Music Competition and All Japan Junior Classical Music Competition[2]

Discography

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  • 2014 – Asa to Yoru no Uta, Op. 1 (S-TSU)[1]
  • 2014 – Fuhansō Violin ni yoru Meikyoku-shū, Op. 2 (S-TSU)[1]
  • 2016 – Great Violin Sonatas, Op. 3 (S-TSU)[1]
  • 2016 – Miyagi Michio: Koto & Violin Famous Songs (S-TSU)[1]
  • 2018 – Masterpieces for Violin and Piano, Op. S (S-TSU)[1]
  • 2020 – Violin & Koto: Miyagi Michio Famous Songs (2-Disc Set) (S-TSU)[1]
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Categories

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This page will be placed in the following categories if it is moved to the article namespace.
Categories:

[1] [2] [3] [7] [5] [4] [6] [8]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z "Profile – Kunito Nishitani official site". nkunito.com. Retrieved 2025-11-11.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g ""優秀指導者賞受賞者インタビュー – 西谷国登先生"". TIAA Blog. 2025-09-22. Retrieved 2025-11-11.
  3. ^ a b ""笑顔と情熱の先にある楽しさ ヴァイオリニスト・指揮者 西谷国登 が 魅せる '背中'"". Concert Square. 2024-07-26. Retrieved 2025-11-11.
  4. ^ a b c "Beaverton Symphony Orchestra: Brahms Violin Concerto with Kunito Nishitani – Violin". Live Music Project. Retrieved 2025-11-11.
  5. ^ a b "Kunito (Kuni) Nishitani, violinist and conductor". Beaverton Symphony Orchestra. Retrieved 2025-11-11.
  6. ^ a b "MusicWatch Monthly: "The Flood is Following Me"". Oregon ArtsWatch. 2022-11-03. Retrieved 2025-11-11.
  7. ^ a b ""表紙 ＆ Artist Close-up 西谷国登"". Sarasaate. October 2023. Retrieved 2025-11-11.
  8. ^ a b "All Classical Radio – Drop-in Interview with Kunito Nishitani". All Classical Radio. 2024-10-25. Retrieved 2025-11-11.