“This is what I want to do. This is my passion.” So speaks 23 year-old Kentaro Machida – conductor, organist, music scholar and first-class Oxford graduate, who now has a growing reputation in the classical world and big global ambitions.
Currently preparing to conduct Oxford Sinfonia‘s ‘Classics From Vienna’ in Oxford’s St Mary’s Church, and The Hobbit at Oxford Playhouse, the career of this young musician from Abingdon is really taking off.
The ‘Classics from Vienna’ concert on June 24, boasts a programme of Mozart’s Magic Flute Overture, Mozart’s Horn Concerto no 4 and Schubert’s 9th Symphony ‘The Great’. Book here: https://www.oxfordsinfonia.co.uk/event/mozart-and-schubert/
“Oxford Sinfonia really nurtures young talent and I’m so glad they have given me this opportunity”
Then on June 29 – July 1, Kentaro is conducting Oxford Festival Of The Arts‘ new project with Magdalen College School, an adaption of The Hobbit at Oxford Playhouse, with a musical score by John Mann. Book here https://www.oxfordplayhouse.com/events/the-hobbit
“It’s going to be a very busy few months,” Kentaro smiles, “and Oxford Sinfonia really nurtures young talent, so I’m really grateful they have given me this opportunity.”
Kentaro played for Oxfordshire County Youth Orchestra, before becoming a music scholar at Magdalen College School, and then Merton College at Oxford University where he played with Oxford University Sinfonietta. Next he has a place at The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in Glasgow where he will do a masters in conducting.
Having moved to Abingdon as a young child from Japan, Kentaro fully immersed himself in Oxford’s rich music culture, but despite excelling at the organ and French horn, soon realised that conducting was his great love.
“I have always said to myself there is no point in having small ambitions and my ambition is to stand in front of a professional orchestra, hopefully the best in the world, as a professional conductor. That’s my dream and I will do everything I can to fulfil that dream,” he says solemnly.
“Conducting is a way of embodying the music and communicating that to the musicians clearly and effectively, who can then communicate it to the audience. You have to create that music rather than let it create you,” he says.
“The Vienna Classics programme, is a really good example of that because Mozart and Schubert both died young and no one knows what or how their music would have developed. So its really important to approach their music with fresh insight.”
As for Oxford’s part in his musical prowess, Kentaro says: “Oxford has such a wealth of musical history and ideas, both in terms of the traditional and innovative – and that’s what makes this city so special.
“MUSIC REALLY HELPED WITH THE LANGUAGE BARRIER WHEN I FIRST CAME TO ENGLAND”
“And that really helped with the language barrier when I first came to England, because conducting and music brings people together.”
But back to his concert with Oxford Sinfonia on June 24: How is he feeling about it? “I’m really excited to be working with soloist Zoe Tweed in the horn concerto – she is a really up-and-coming horn player in the UK, and will be an absolute delight at St Mary’s,” he says.
Classics From Vienna with Kentaro Machida conducting Oxford Sinfonia is on June 24 at St Mary’s Church on Oxford High Street. Book here https://www.oxfordsinfonia.co.uk/event/mozart-and-schubert/
The Hobbit, Oxford Playhouse, Thu 29 June – Sat 1 July. Book here https://www.oxfordplayhouse.com/events/the-hobbit
