Hikaru EbiharaHikaru Ebihara

Hikaru Ebihara was born in Kagoshima, Japan, in 1974. He graduated from Kagoshima La Salle Junior and Senior High School. Ebihara studied conducting under Masamitsu Takashina from 1993. He graduated from Tokyo University of the Arts, majoring in Musicology in the Faculty of Music, where he also completed the graduate course in Musicology and Music Studies (Music Education/Conducting).
From 2002 to 2003, Ebihara received training at the Hungarian State Opera House. He was conductor-researcher of the Tokyo City Philharmonic Orchestra from 2003 to 2005, and Associate Conductor of the same orchestra from 2011 to 2015. Ebihara studied musicology under Eizaburo Tsuchida, music education under Yasushi Sano, and conducting under Ken-ichiro Kobayashi. He also received training from Kovacs Janos and Taijiro Iimori.
Hikaru Ebihara was the winner of the 3rd prize at the Lovro von Matacic Conducting Competition in 2007 and the 6th prize at the Malko Competition in 2009. He also won the jury’s special prize at the International Competition for Orchestra Conductors “Antonio Pedrotti” in 2010.
Ebihara has conducted major Japanese orchestras, also appearing as guest conductor, and performed with numerous renowned soloists from Japan and abroad. In 2012 and 2015 he appeared in subscription concerts of the Croatia Radio Symphony Orchestra in Zagreb, and in 2019 he was invited to conduct the Gödöllő Symphony Orchestra in Hungary, earning favorable reviews.
Ebihara plays active roles not only in the Kirishima International Music Festival, but also in events, workshops and conducting courses in his home city, Kagoshima.
Hikaru Ebihara has an extensive repertoire ranging from mainstream classical symphonies to wind orchestra music, contemporary music and game music. Furthermore, his collaborations with various genres such as media art and Kyogen have attracted much attention. With his dynamic, sparkling conducting and rich musicality, Ebihara is a gifted conductor with a bright career ahead.