Support of Music Culture
through the Nippon Steel Arts Foundation at Kioi Hall

Kioi Hall

To commemorate the 20th anniversary of the founding of the former Nippon Steel in 1990, Kioi Hall was planned to construct and opened in 1995 as a part of Nippon Steel’s philanthropic activities. The Kioi Hall contains two halls; Kioi Hall that is suitable for classical chamber music and Kioi Small Hall that is furnished for Japanese traditional music. As both halls are carefully designed and have the highest quality, those are garnered a high reputation among the musicians and the audience at home and abroad.

Outline

Kioi Hall Chamber Orchestra Tokyo

With the opening of Kioi Hall in 1995, the Kioi Sinfonietta Tokyo (former name at the time of establishment) was founded as the orchestra in residence. It is renowned for its world-class soloists, chamber musicians, as well as its visiting principal musicians from leading orchestras both in Japan and abroad.
The orchestra is unique in that rehearsals are conducted in the Hall itself, thereby enabling the full potential of the orchestra to be continually developed and refined. As a result, the resident orchestra has developed its own highly distinctive sound.
In addition to the subscription concerts, Kioi Hall Chamber Orchestra Tokyo also has performed internationally (the special concert for the Tokai-city's 50th anniversary in 2020,etc. ), and has been acclaimed for its concerts in Europe (2000, 2005), South Korea (2009, 2010) and United States (2012).
Recently the orchestra was invited to perform in prestigious music festivals in Japan, notably the Music Festival Argerich’s Meeting Point in Beppu in 2015 and 2016, the Spring Festival in Tokyo in 2016 and 2019 as well as the Spring Green Music Festival 2018 in Kanazawa.
From April 2017, the orchestra's name changed to “Kioi Hall Chamber Orchestra Tokyo” to clarify embodiment of the orchestra and Kioi Hall,and the orchestra asigned Rainer Honeck to the Principal Conductor. From April 2022, the Principal Conductor has been succeeded to Trevor Pinnock and the orchestra will continue to strive for excellent harmony under the direction of Maestro Pinnock.

Nippon Steel Arts Foundation

Nippon Steel Arts Foundation was established as an operating organization for the Kioi Hall. The foundation has been authorized as a public interest incorporated foundation in October 2010. It was named the Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Arts Foundation between October 2012 and March 2019, and renamed the Nippon Steel Arts Foundation in April 2019.

Objectives and Activities

• Fostering talented musicians
  One year only members in Kioi Hall Chamber Orchestra Tokyo, conductor trainees
• Producing concerts and other musical events
  Presenting high-quality recitals and concerts in classical music as well as Japanese traditional music
• Supporting distinguished musical activities
  Kioi Up & Coming Artists introducing and supporting young talents, grants for performances
• Administration and building operations of concert halls in the Kioi Hall
  Maintenances and hall rentals
• Other activities deemed necessary to achieve the purpose of the foundation

Nippon Steel Music Awards

Nippon Steel Music Awards, established in 1990, are presented once a year to promising young classical musicians and to those who have made contributions to the development of classical music.