Mayumi Koyanagi｜2023 – Para 国際音楽コンクール

2nd Para International Music Competition Judge

Mayumi Koyanagi

While puzzled by the developmental delays and odd behavior of her son Takuto Koyanagi, she saw the potential in the peculiarities of autism and led her to performance activities and employment.
Her lecture and concert, “Turning peculiarities into strengths,” in which she talks about her son’s progress along with her son’s performance, has been well received both in Japan and abroad.

Since 2013, she has organized the “Autism Musician Concert” in the belief that there must be others who share her son’s autism, and is the representative of the association.

In 2016, she founded and co-chaired the Asian Federation of Autistic Pianists in 2016 after accompanying her son to concerts and competitions in 13 cities in 6 foreign countries.

In 2018, she established (Goodat Co., Ltd.), incorporating her lecture theme into the company’s name, and is engaged in lecture activities and management of artists with disabilities.

Graduated from the Department of Subject Education (Music Education), Faculty of Education, Hiroshima University, and the Graduate School of Education (Music Education), Tokyo Gakugei University In addition to teaching music at elementary and junior high schools for over 25 years, she has been a part-time lecturer at Kanto Gakuin University since 2015.

Since 2013, she has organized the “Autism Musician Concert” in the belief that there must be others who share her son’s autism, and is the representative of the association.

In 2016, he founded and co-chaired the Asian Federation of Autistic Pianists in 2016 after accompanying his son to concerts and competitions in 13 cities in 6 foreign countries.

In 2018, he established (Good At Inc.), incorporating his lecture theme into the company’s name, and is engaged in lecture activities and management of artists with disabilities.

|　What do you find attractive about the 1st Para International Music Competition that you saw through it?

The most important thing is that we can feel the diverse possibilities of people with disabilities to express themselves through their performances.

For example, those with physical limitations created their own unique tones and performance styles by arranging music and devising new arrangements during the learning process. Those who have difficulty communicating in words seemed to express their inner selves, which cannot be expressed in words, in the form of their performances.

In each performance, I felt the joy of having encountered music and the confidence and hope of being able to perform despite the difficulties of disability.

|　How do you see the significance of the competition?

For performers, it is an opportunity to improve their skills and a valuable opportunity to have their music heard by many people. There are still not many performance opportunities for para-artists.
Through these competitions, it is hoped that the musical talents and expressive abilities of people with disabilities will be widely recognized by society.

|　What kind of music appeals to you?

I am attracted to performances that deliver their appeal points to the audience as a performance and make the audience want to hear them again.

|　What are the key points of the screening process?

These include musicality, technical ability, expressiveness, and creativity. Another important point is whether or not the performance stirs the hearts of listeners. It is difficult to compare performance skills in general because there are differences in the level and type of disabilities, but I think the key point is whether or not the performance expresses one’s feelings on the sound as a result of facing the music during the practice process.

|　Please give a shout out to those who are considering participating in the Para International Music Competition!

There are many experiences that can only be gained by being on stage. I hope that you will take this opportunity to boldly challenge yourself and use it to improve your own performance first.

Also, when you participate in the competition, you will make para-friends. Please exchange information with them about how they are practicing and finding places for their activities, even though they have different disabilities, ages, and instruments. I believe that this will be the best reference and goal for how you should work on your own performance in the future.

List of Judges

・Ai Onouchi・

・Masahiro Kawakami・

・Mayumi Koyanagi・

・Mari Suenaga・

・Atsuko Nakanishi・

If you have any questions about the competition, please contact us at the e-mail address below.

info@para-artist.org

If you have any questions about the competition, please contact us at the e-mail address below.

info@para-artist.org

Head office　　Myokoji, Tokinoshima, Ichinomiya, Aichi, Japan

Kobe Office　　6-1, Matsuda Building 1F, 4-9-15 Yamamoto-dori, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo