Biography:

Kazuyoshi Akiyama (秋山 和慶, Akiyama Kazuyoshi, January 2, 1941 – January 26, 2025) was a Japanese conductor.

Life and career

Born into a musical family, he studied piano at the Toho Gakuen School of Music, but was fascinated by the conducting activities of a fellow student, Seiji Ozawa. He decided to study conducting with Hideo Saito.[1]

In 1963, Akiyama made his debut with the Tokyo Symphony,[1] and within two months, he was named the orchestra’s Music Director and Permanent Conductor.

He held a number of conducting posts internationally:

• Assistant Conductor of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra(1968–1969)
• Music Director of the American Symphony Orchestra(1973–1978)
• Music Director (1964–2004) and Conductor Laureate (2004–2024) of the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra(1964–2004)[2]
• Music Director (1972–1985) and Conductor Laureate (1985–2024) of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra(1972–1985)
• Music Director (1985–1993) and Conductor Emeritus (1993–2024) of the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra
• Principal Conductor and Music Advisor of the Hiroshima Symphony Orchestra(1998–2024)[3]
• Principal Conductor and Music Advisor of the Kyushu Symphony
• Principal Guest Conductor of the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra(2004–2005)

With the Tokyo Symphony, he conducted the Japanese premieres of Schoenberg‘s Moses und Aron, John Adams‘ El Niño and Lachenman’s The Little Match Girl.

Akiyama received the 1974 Suntory Music Award. In 2001, Akiyama was awarded the Emperor’s Purple Ribbon Medal from the Japanese Government for his outstanding contribution to the country’s musical culture.

His family and his management team announced his retirement from conducting on January 23, 2025, following severe spinal cord damage caused by a fall at his home on January 1,[1] causing permanent paralysis to his limbs. He died from pneumonia on January 26, at the age of 84.[4]

Credits: