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The 11th El Sistema Children's Music Festival in Soma

The highly anticipated 11th El Sistema Children's Music Festival in Soma will take place on March 21st, 2026, at the Soma Civic Center. This event is co-hosted by El Sistema Japan, based in Chiyoda, Tokyo, and the Soma City Board of Education, continuing a tradition of bringing together the community through music.

After last year's milestone 10th festival, this year's event promises to be even more exciting. Attendees can look forward to a full day packed with lively performances, including concert band, choral, and orchestral segments.

One of the highlights this year is a collaborative performance by the city’s middle school concert bands, along with a special choral stage that will present a musical adaptation of the popular story, “The 11 Cats”. Eleven talented children will portray stray cats as they sing and dance across the stage, showcasing their remarkable skills in a fun and engaging way.

The orchestra will also take the audience on a musical journey with its first-ever performance of Italian opera repertoire. They'll perform pieces from renowned operas such as Cavalleria Rusticana, featuring the well-loved intermezzo by Mascagni, and the overture from William Tell by Rossini. The festival’s main piece will be Dvořák’s Symphony No. 9, commonly known as From the New World, which is deeply cherished by both current members and alumni who participated in the first festival a decade ago.

The roots of this festival trace back to the support initiative for elementary school clubs initiated in the wake of the Great East Japan Earthquake. In 2013, the Soma Children's Orchestra & Chorus debuted, subsequently launching the first El Sistema Japan Children’s Music Festival in 2015. For the children who have faced numerous challenges, this festival is a joyous opportunity to express themselves through music and connect with their peers, their community, and the audience. We warmly invite everyone to come and enjoy the music performed by our future talents.

Event Details:

• - Date: March 21, 2026
• - Time: 2:30 PM start (1:45 PM doors open), ending around 6:00 PM
• - Location: Soma Civic Center, Main Hall (51-1 Nakakamimachi, Soma City, Fukushima)

Program Schedule:

• - Soma Children’s Chorus (Choreography by Lucky Ikeda and Eri Saiaki):

Sakura Sakura / Traditional Japanese, arranged by Masashi Wakamatsu
Horanen / Lyrics by Keiji Ito, music by Kosaku Matsushita
Look Up at the Stars / Lyrics by Rokugo Nagai, music by Takashi Izumi, arranged by Fujio Kobayashi
We Will Become Flowers / Lyrics by Hinata Takumi, music by Kosaku Matsushita
The 11 Cats (Choral Version) / Lyrics by Hisashi Inoue, music by Hiroshi Aoshima

• - Collaborative Performance by the Soma City Middle School Concert Bands

• - Soma Children's Orchestra:

Holberg Suite, I. Prelude / Edvard Grieg
Intermezzo from Cavalleria Rusticana / Pietro Mascagni
Intermezzo from Manon Lescaut / Giacomo Puccini
Overture from William Tell / Gioachino Rossini
Symphony No. 9, From the New World / Antonín Dvořák

Featured Artists:

• - Soma Children's Orchestra & Chorus
• - Middle Schools of Soma: Nakakamimachi First School, Nakakamimachi Second School, Koyo School Bands
• - Conductors: Fujio Kobayashi (Chorus), Yusuke Kimokori (Orchestra)
• - Piano: Harumi Noma
• - Host: Nahoko Tazoe

Tickets:

• - Admission: Free entry available; no reservation needed.
• - Seating: Free seating with a整理券 (entry ticket) distribution starting February 9 at select locations such as Soma City Hall or local music shops.
• - Please note that those with整理券 will be prioritized in case of a full house.

Health Notice:

We ask that anyone exhibiting cold symptoms or fever refrain from attending for the safety of all attendees.

Contact Information:

El Sistema Japan
Phone: 03-6811-7077 (Weekdays 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM)
Email: [email protected]

This event represents a collaboration with support from various local media organizations and musical entities, ensuring an enriching experience for our young performers and the entire community.