Ken’ichi Masakado
Ken'ichi Masakado was born in Kasuga City, Fukuoka Prefecture in October 1966. He picked up the trombone at the age of 12 and played in junior high school band and community band before entering the Musashino Academia Musicae in Tokyo in 1985. There he majored in musicology, studying mainly modern and contemporary music under Professor Akimichi Takeda, earning a B.A. with a thesis on the symphonies of Arthur Honegger. This research would have a major influence on his later composing career. While at Musashino, he also learned a great deal about band music (wind band, wind ensemble) under Mr. Toshio Akiyama.
After graduating from Musashino, he worked as a trombonist and assistant conductor in a community band while working for an advertising agency in his hometown, Fukuoka Prefecture. At the same time, he began to compose and arrange music in earnest.
His first achievement came in 1997, when he received an honorable mention in an open call for fanfare music for the Nagano Paralympics (1998). In 1998, his composition "EMBLEMS, Military March" was selected for the "9th Asahi Composition Award" and was chosen as the required piece for the "All Japan Band Competition" in 1999. This competition is the oldest and largest of its kind in Japan. "EMBLEMS" has been selected twice as the contest piece for overseas competitions.
After "EMBLEMS" was selected, he has composed and arranged numerous pieces primarily for wind orchestras and wind instruments. His works have been provided to professional ensembles representing Japan, such as the Hiroshima Wind Orchestra (Maestro Tatsuya Shimono, Music Director) and the Kyushu Wind Orchestra, as well as to amateur groups throughout Japan. Furthermore, many of his compositions have been published in Japan and Italy, and are performed not only within Japan but also in Europe and America.
He has also been recognized for his abilities as a conductor, and in April 2003 he was appointed as the Music Director of the Kitakyushu City Fire Department Band. During his tenure until December 2005, he conducted about 500 concerts and ceremonies, as well as composing and arranging music for the band. In January 2006, he was appointed as the Director of the Oita Prefectural Police Band and conducted about 500 concerts and ceremonies during his tenure until March 2017. He has also composed and arranged music for many ceremonies, including the “63rd National Sports Festival” and the “8th National Sports Festival for the Disabled” held in Oita Prefecture in 2008, where he was honored to produce the ceremonial music and conduct the ceremonial band and chorus.
In 2021, “Shining Soul 4” was awarded the second prize in the concert march category of the “6th International Composition Competition for Marches; Città di Allumiere” in Italy. In 2023, “Shining Soul 3” was awarded first prize in the “Concert March” category of the same competition, and received the Rossano Cardinali Trophy.
Currently based in Oita City, in addition to his composing, arranging and conducting activities, he regularly teaches amateur bands, judges national and international competitions, and writes for magazines.
After graduating from Musashino, he worked as a trombonist and assistant conductor in a community band while working for an advertising agency in his hometown, Fukuoka Prefecture. At the same time, he began to compose and arrange music in earnest.
His first achievement came in 1997, when he received an honorable mention in an open call for fanfare music for the Nagano Paralympics (1998). In 1998, his composition "EMBLEMS, Military March" was selected for the "9th Asahi Composition Award" and was chosen as the required piece for the "All Japan Band Competition" in 1999. This competition is the oldest and largest of its kind in Japan. "EMBLEMS" has been selected twice as the contest piece for overseas competitions.
After "EMBLEMS" was selected, he has composed and arranged numerous pieces primarily for wind orchestras and wind instruments. His works have been provided to professional ensembles representing Japan, such as the Hiroshima Wind Orchestra (Maestro Tatsuya Shimono, Music Director) and the Kyushu Wind Orchestra, as well as to amateur groups throughout Japan. Furthermore, many of his compositions have been published in Japan and Italy, and are performed not only within Japan but also in Europe and America.
He has also been recognized for his abilities as a conductor, and in April 2003 he was appointed as the Music Director of the Kitakyushu City Fire Department Band. During his tenure until December 2005, he conducted about 500 concerts and ceremonies, as well as composing and arranging music for the band. In January 2006, he was appointed as the Director of the Oita Prefectural Police Band and conducted about 500 concerts and ceremonies during his tenure until March 2017. He has also composed and arranged music for many ceremonies, including the “63rd National Sports Festival” and the “8th National Sports Festival for the Disabled” held in Oita Prefecture in 2008, where he was honored to produce the ceremonial music and conduct the ceremonial band and chorus.
In 2021, “Shining Soul 4” was awarded the second prize in the concert march category of the “6th International Composition Competition for Marches; Città di Allumiere” in Italy. In 2023, “Shining Soul 3” was awarded first prize in the “Concert March” category of the same competition, and received the Rossano Cardinali Trophy.
Currently based in Oita City, in addition to his composing, arranging and conducting activities, he regularly teaches amateur bands, judges national and international competitions, and writes for magazines.
