Classical Music Meets Cutting-Edge Technology, Industry-First “Virtual Artist” Development Project
Classical Music Meets Cutting-Edge Technology
Industry-First “Virtual Artist” Development Project
Supervised by Tokyo Symphony Orchestra
Audition for the First Virtual Pianist
Open Until January 5th, 2024
Tokyo JP, KADOKAWA CORPORATION（https://group.kadokawa.co.jp/global/）and Dwango Co., Ltd. (https://Dwango.co.jp/english/index.html) have announced that they have launched "Portameta," a project to develop "virtual artists" under the special supervision of the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra. This project will utilize state-of-the-art technology that precisely reproduces instrumentalists in a virtual space, which is unprecedented in the classical music world. In its first phase, the project will develop a virtual character of a pianist and concurrently conduct auditions to discover a world-class pianist who will take on the role of its actual performer. Entry submissions for the audition will commence on November 1st (Weds.), 2023, and end on January 5th (Fri.), 2024.
“Virtual artist” is a new concept that combines the real and virtual worlds, along with classical music and technology. It aims to expand the fan base of classical music by engaging in musical activities worldwide, mainly through videos and social media, as well as real-life concert performances. With Keitaro Harada (resident conductor of the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra, active primarily in America, Europe, and Asia) as its head judge, the audition will discover new talents who will go on to become world-class virtual artists.
■Pianist Audition Outline
The pianist audition will select the individual who will take the role of a virtual pianist. Through their performance, they will help spark the interest of potential classical music fans and cultivate the new classical music market. Age, gender, and nationality are not criteria for selection. In due course, information regarding schedules for the following year and beyond will be announced on the official website and other platforms.
[Preliminary Selection]
Application Period ： November 1st, 2023 (Weds.) ～ January 5th, 2024 (Fri.)
Assigned Pieces : Chopin Etude Op.10 10-1, Chopin Etude Op.25 25-6
How to apply ：Please apply via the audition registration form > https://secure.nicovideo.jp/form/entry/portameta_audition
Application Requirements：Please check the Portameta official website > https://portameta.com/
[Secondary Selection]
Date and Time ： February 27th, 2024 (Tues.)
Place : Pantheon Tama (Tama City, Tokyo)
Selection Details ：Practical skills (assigned piece: Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue), Interview (with a panel of 5 judges)
■Judges
[Comment from Keitaro Harada, Head Judge]
I've been eagerly awaiting the realization of a project that combines VR and classical music! Having just conducted an opera with a VR theme in the United States in the summer of 2023, I'm particularly excited about bringing VR and orchestra together here in Japan, which is known for its technological advancements. This project is an unprecedented challenge, and I'm eager to make it a global success by collaborating with KADOKAWA and the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra.
Through this project, we'll attract a new audience and fans!
It is a chance to create a new chapter in the history of classical music. We look forward to your application!
[Profile]
●Keitaro Harada (Conductor)：https://www.japanarts.co.jp/en/artist/keitaroharada/
●Yoshitaka Hirooka (Managing Director, Tokyo Symphony Orchestra)：https://tokyosymphony.jp/pc/press/hirooka_profile.html
●Yuko Mifune (Pianist)：https://www.japanarts.co.jp/en/artist/yukomifune/
●Yuko Nakamichi (Pianist)：https://www.japanarts.co.jp/en/artist/yukonakamichi/
●Hibiki Tamura (Pianist)：https://www.hirasaoffice06.com/artists/view/97
■Project Background
The collaboration between Dwango and the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra began in March 2020, when numerous live events were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. They initiated the unprecedented "concert without an audience," live-streamed on Niconico. This innovative approach gained significant attention. Following this success, in June of the same year, they established the first-ever professional orchestra channel on Niconico called "Niconico Tokyo Symphony Orchestra (NicoKyo)." Over the past four years, they have delivered 46 performances via creatively curated live streams.Additionally, last January, they successfully organized a one-day-only concert called "Orchestra Concert in Ukiyo-e Theater" through collaboration between the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra and the Kadokawa Cultural Promotion Foundation. These initiatives have provided various new ways to enjoy orchestra performances unlike before.
*Niconico Tokyo Symphony Orchestra (NicoKyo) ▶https://ch.nicovideo.jp/tokyosymphony
【What is Project Portameta?】
The word "Portameta" is coined from the musical term "portamento" and "meta" which means "of high dimension".
Its purpose is to turn people who have never been to a real classical music concert into classical music fans.
We wish to transform the situation surrounding classical music like a "portamento" that smoothly changes pitch.
organizers, Planning, and Cooperation
KADOKAWA, Dwango, Tokyo Symphony Orchestra
inquiries Regarding Auditions
Inquiry form : https://secure.nicovideo.jp/form/entry/portameta_faq
©portameta Project ©KADOKAWA CORPORATION 2023 ©DWANGO Co., Ltd.
Industry-First “Virtual Artist” Development Project
Supervised by Tokyo Symphony Orchestra
Audition for the First Virtual Pianist
Open Until January 5th, 2024
Tokyo JP, KADOKAWA CORPORATION（https://group.kadokawa.co.jp/global/）and Dwango Co., Ltd. (https://Dwango.co.jp/english/index.html) have announced that they have launched "Portameta," a project to develop "virtual artists" under the special supervision of the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra. This project will utilize state-of-the-art technology that precisely reproduces instrumentalists in a virtual space, which is unprecedented in the classical music world. In its first phase, the project will develop a virtual character of a pianist and concurrently conduct auditions to discover a world-class pianist who will take on the role of its actual performer. Entry submissions for the audition will commence on November 1st (Weds.), 2023, and end on January 5th (Fri.), 2024.
“Virtual artist” is a new concept that combines the real and virtual worlds, along with classical music and technology. It aims to expand the fan base of classical music by engaging in musical activities worldwide, mainly through videos and social media, as well as real-life concert performances. With Keitaro Harada (resident conductor of the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra, active primarily in America, Europe, and Asia) as its head judge, the audition will discover new talents who will go on to become world-class virtual artists.
■Pianist Audition Outline
The pianist audition will select the individual who will take the role of a virtual pianist. Through their performance, they will help spark the interest of potential classical music fans and cultivate the new classical music market. Age, gender, and nationality are not criteria for selection. In due course, information regarding schedules for the following year and beyond will be announced on the official website and other platforms.
[Preliminary Selection]
Application Period ： November 1st, 2023 (Weds.) ～ January 5th, 2024 (Fri.)
Assigned Pieces : Chopin Etude Op.10 10-1, Chopin Etude Op.25 25-6
How to apply ：Please apply via the audition registration form > https://secure.nicovideo.jp/form/entry/portameta_audition
Application Requirements：Please check the Portameta official website > https://portameta.com/
[Secondary Selection]
Date and Time ： February 27th, 2024 (Tues.)
Place : Pantheon Tama (Tama City, Tokyo)
Selection Details ：Practical skills (assigned piece: Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue), Interview (with a panel of 5 judges)
■Judges
[Comment from Keitaro Harada, Head Judge]
I've been eagerly awaiting the realization of a project that combines VR and classical music! Having just conducted an opera with a VR theme in the United States in the summer of 2023, I'm particularly excited about bringing VR and orchestra together here in Japan, which is known for its technological advancements. This project is an unprecedented challenge, and I'm eager to make it a global success by collaborating with KADOKAWA and the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra.
Through this project, we'll attract a new audience and fans!
It is a chance to create a new chapter in the history of classical music. We look forward to your application!
[Profile]
●Keitaro Harada (Conductor)：https://www.japanarts.co.jp/en/artist/keitaroharada/
●Yoshitaka Hirooka (Managing Director, Tokyo Symphony Orchestra)：https://tokyosymphony.jp/pc/press/hirooka_profile.html
●Yuko Mifune (Pianist)：https://www.japanarts.co.jp/en/artist/yukomifune/
●Yuko Nakamichi (Pianist)：https://www.japanarts.co.jp/en/artist/yukonakamichi/
●Hibiki Tamura (Pianist)：https://www.hirasaoffice06.com/artists/view/97
■Project Background
The collaboration between Dwango and the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra began in March 2020, when numerous live events were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. They initiated the unprecedented "concert without an audience," live-streamed on Niconico. This innovative approach gained significant attention. Following this success, in June of the same year, they established the first-ever professional orchestra channel on Niconico called "Niconico Tokyo Symphony Orchestra (NicoKyo)." Over the past four years, they have delivered 46 performances via creatively curated live streams.Additionally, last January, they successfully organized a one-day-only concert called "Orchestra Concert in Ukiyo-e Theater" through collaboration between the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra and the Kadokawa Cultural Promotion Foundation. These initiatives have provided various new ways to enjoy orchestra performances unlike before.
*Niconico Tokyo Symphony Orchestra (NicoKyo) ▶https://ch.nicovideo.jp/tokyosymphony
【What is Project Portameta?】
The word "Portameta" is coined from the musical term "portamento" and "meta" which means "of high dimension".
Its purpose is to turn people who have never been to a real classical music concert into classical music fans.
We wish to transform the situation surrounding classical music like a "portamento" that smoothly changes pitch.
organizers, Planning, and Cooperation
KADOKAWA, Dwango, Tokyo Symphony Orchestra
inquiries Regarding Auditions
Inquiry form : https://secure.nicovideo.jp/form/entry/portameta_faq
©portameta Project ©KADOKAWA CORPORATION 2023 ©DWANGO Co., Ltd.
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