Kazuyoshi Akiyama

Kazuyoshi Akiyama studied at Toho Gakuen School of Music. Training under Hideo Saito is recorded. The recorded working language is Japanese and English. The field of work recorded is music and conducting. Subjects and genres recorded for the work are classical music. Distinctions recorded are Medal with Purple Ribbon, Person of Cultural Merit and Suntory Music Award.

• Born — 2 January 1941 • Birthplace — Tokyo, Japan • Died — 26 January 2025 • Place of death — Tokyo, Japan • Native Name — 秋山 和慶 • Education — Toho Gakuen School of Music • Occupation — Conductor • Organizations — * Tokyo Symphony Orchestra • Vancouver Symphony Orchestra • Syracuse Symphony Orchestra • Hiroshima Symphony Orchestra • Awards — * Suntory Music Award • Order of the Rising Sun

Born into a musical family, Akiyama studied piano first with his mother, who was a professional piano teacher, from age three. At age 15, he began studying piano at the Toho Gakuen School of Music. He also studied French horn and percussion. He was fascinated by the conducting activities of a fellow student, Seiji Ozawa, and decided to study conducting with Hideo Saito.

In 1964, Akiyama made his debut with the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra; he was named the orchestra's music director and permanent conductor a few months later. With the Tokyo Symphony, he conducted several works by European composers in Japanese first performances by Japanese performers, such as Schoenberg's Moses und Aron in 1994. He introduced Schoenberg's Die Jakobsleiter and a staged performance of Janáček's The Cunning Little Vixen in 1997, a concert performance of Helmut Lachenmann's Das Mädchen mit den Schwefelhölzern, a Czech version of Janáček's Káťa Kabanová in 2000, and John Adams' El Niño oratorio in 2003. He was named the orchestra's conductor laureate in 2004.

Akiyama became known outside Japan first by a tour of the orchestra of the Toho Gakuen School of Music to the U.S. and Europe. He became assistant conductor of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra in the 1968/69 season. He was music director of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra (VSO) from 1972 to 1985 (then conductor laureate). During his tenure, the orchestra moved from the Queen Elizabeth Theatre to the improved Orpheum. He took the VSO to tours in Japan twice, and also toured within Canada and the U.S. His programs offered many Vancouver premieres by Canadian, Japanese and international composers. He commissioned Jean Coulthard from Vancouver to compose Canada Mosaic for concerts in Asia, requesting solos for all principal players in the orchestra. Akiyama was music director of the American Symphony Orchestra from 1973 to 1978 and served as music director of the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra from 1985 to 1993. He returned to Japan in 1995 to become principal conductor and music advisor of the Hiroshima Symphony Orchestra. He became an honorary conductor for life when he left. He led the National Youth Orchestra of Canada on a 1998 tour to Japan, and conducted them again on a 2000 tour in Canada.

On January 23, 2025, Akiyama's family and management announced his retirement from conducting following severe spinal cord damage caused by a fall at his home on January 1. He died from pneumonia on January 26, at the age of 84.

Kazuyoshi Akiyama is recorded with the occupation talent manager. Classed in the genre classical music. Recorded as having received Medal with Purple Ribbon, Person of Cultural Merit and Suntory Music Award.