JUNICHI HIROKAMI is the Chief Conductor of the Limburg Symphony Orchestra in Maastricht, Holland, and the Principal Guest Conductor of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. His career began in September 1984 when he won the first Kondrashin International Conducting Competition in Amsterdam. Vladimir Ashkenazy, a judge, was so impressed that he chose Hirokami as his conductor for a concert tour of Japan with the NHK Symphony Orchestra in May 1985. Since 1990, Hirokami has conducted the Israel Philharmonic, the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra Amsterdam, the Vienna Symphony, and the London Symphony. He has made major recordings with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra for Denon, including a highly praised Mahler’s 4th Symphony and Berlioz’ Symphonie fantastique. His most recent Hollywood Bowl appearance was in 1996.

4/00