From Percussion Instrument Rooms of the World Vol.13｜Nozomi Hiwatari, Stuttgart, Germany

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Nice to meet you, I'm Nozomi Hiwatari, majoring in the soloist course at the Stuttgart University of Music and Performing Arts.
It's been about three years since I studied abroad in Germany. I had a wonderful opportunity this time, so I would like to introduce my life in Germany.

●Why I studied abroad in Germany

In August of my second year at Tokyo College of Music, a wind and percussion competition was held, and I competed in the marimba section. At that time, I did my best to read all the new songs and the music scores, and luckily I made it to the second round, but I was disappointed because I was completely unprepared for the performance. September of the same year was also the year that the percussion section of the ARD Munich International Competition was held.『I couldn't even make it to the final round of the wind percussion concert, so I'm still feeling depressed, so I thought I'd go sightseeing and listen to performances by musicians from around the world.』I went to see ARD with such a light feeling.
This trip was difficult for me as I had no language skills, but what was really difficult was『The performance level, content, and worldview of those who stand on the world stage are completely different from what I do.』This made me keenly aware. Each contestant has a different way of expressing their music and people.ShaftIt seemed like he was giving a presentation to the audience.
It was a shock to me, as I had been practicing only for self-satisfaction, feeling like I had been able to snatch up sheet music and perform, and I returned home with a mixed feeling: I wanted to play like this!, but it was still a dream come true for me to be able to reach this level.
And just like that, it's my last year as an undergraduate. I decided to try at least one international competition before I graduate, so I entered the Italian International Competition. Immediately after the final performance, I remember being really happy with the audience's reaction to the thoughts I expressed.
During the competition, I met wonderful colleagues who I respect both as performers and as people, and as I deepened our relationships with them, I realized that they were students from Stuttgart. If I recall, the contestants who thought I would give a truly wonderful performance at ARD were also students there.
Immediately after returning to Japan, I started studying the language and researched the universities and teachers in Stuttgart.
JapanWith the support of my teachers and friends, I took the entrance exam with a strong desire to study abroad here, and in the fall of 2017, I was able to enter the master's program in Stuttgart, which was my dream.

●Activities in Germany

There are many professional orchestras in Germany. I have often joined the orchestra in Thuringia as an extra, but there aren't many rehearsals! Today is my first rehearsal → AkiraJapanThe turnaround is so fast that the next day we have to sing a new song and then perform the next day, and it's very difficult to do it perfectly every time.

However, there are many interesting events. One day, right before the performance, the snare stand broke, so a member of the troupe had to put the snare on a chair and play...I was amazed at how he handled the incident with a laugh.

Also, just before the semi-finals of ARD, which I participated in last year, each member of the orchestra put their cell phones on the music stand and watched my performance on the live stream and cheered me on, even though the orchestra was rehearsing. I was happy to see the kindness of the group members, but at the same time, I honestly wish I had seen that scene (lol).

As for individual performance opportunities, I also perform with the organ at churches and collaborate on contemporary pieces with artists from different genres.
It's really difficult not only to understand sheet music, but also to express it as your own music, and it's a learning experience.
I also teach at a music school. Most of the studentsJapanI get the impression that they have a slightly different motivation than the other students. I was like that too, butJapanThe students of『I want to play well, so I practice』I think there are many people who say that. But the students here『I want to have fun playing it! I want to play it no matter what!』My impression is that I have a hard time with the very honest students, but I enjoy my lessons.

●Finally

What I especially felt after studying abroad was『It is important to act immediately when you have an idea!』That's what it means.
However, you may hesitate to take action due to financial issues, environment, timing, etc.
It is also important to think carefully about what will happen next. However, I believe that the energy you get when you want to do something now has a strong power to change everything for the better.
I will continue to improve myself by having the ability to make decisions and the courage to put them into action.
thank you very much.

Nozomi Hiwatashi Profile

Graduated from Tokyo College of Music at the top of his class and performed at the university's graduation concert. Munich International Music Competition 2019 semi-finalist. Won 2nd place in the marimba category at the 14th Italy Percussion Competition. 34thJapanWind and percussion competition marimba division prize. In 2016, he was selected as a Tokyo College of Music scholarship student and a Segi Arts Foundation short-term overseas training scholarship and was awarded a scholarship. Attended MOZARTEUM International Summer Academy 2016 with a scholarship from the university. Recipient of YAMAHA Music Scholarship Support in 2017, 2018, and 2019. Received a scholarship from INTERSTIP-STIPENDIUM in 2020. He has been invited to perform at various concerts including the Kolberg 50th Anniversary Festival in Germany and the International Percussion Festival in Denmark.
He has studied under Jun Sugawara, Momoko Kamiya, Shoichi Kubo, Hidemi Murase, Satoshi Ishiuchi, Tomohiro Nishikubo, and Satoko Ichimaru. She has been studying abroad in Germany since the fall of 2017, completed the master's course with a unanimous perfect score in the spring of 2020, and is currently enrolled in the soloist course at the Stuttgart University of Music and Performing Arts. He has studied under Marta Klimasara, Klaus Dreher, and Jürgen Spitschka.

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