For the Omiya Wind Symphony, Singapore is not unfamiliar ground.
This upcoming concert marks not a debut, but a meaningful return. In 2019, the band performed here with Philharmonic Wind Orchestra under the guidance of the late Professor Toshio Akiyama, then Music and Artistic Director of the Omiya Wind Symphony, a revered figure in the global wind band community and a passionate advocate for international musical exchange. In 2023, they once again reconnected with Singapore audiences through a collaboration with Musart Wind Orchestra.
Those earlier visits planted lasting seeds of friendship, cultural dialogue, and shared artistry between Japanese and Singaporean musicians.
Now, they return, carrying history, continuity, and renewed purpose.
Founded in 1993, the Omiya Wind Symphony has spent 32 years building a tradition rooted in community, connection, and excellence. With members ranging from teenagers to musicians in their seventies, the band reflects a uniquely Japanese spirit of lifelong dedication to wind music. Their mission remains clear and heartfelt, to enjoy music through wind ensemble performance and to contribute to the promotion of local culture.
Yet their story has never been confined to Japan.
Over the decades, the orchestra has toured seven cities across five countries, strengthening global ties through joint concerts and cultural exchange. For Omiya, each overseas performance is more than an appearance on stage. It is a reunion, a continuation of conversations begun years before, and a reaffirmation that music bridges distances language cannot.
This Singapore concert carries that same spirit of reconnection.
The programme reflects both brilliance and warmth. From contemporary vibrancy to lyrical elegance and spirited folk colour, the repertoire includes Where Eagles Soar by Steven Reineke, Firefly by Ryan George, Overture No. 2 by Dr Kelly Tang, Das Land des Lächelns Selections arranged by Eiji Suzuki, and Yagi Bushi by Naohiro Iwai.
Each work tells its own story. Together, they form a musical journey that mirrors Omiya’s path over three decades.
This visit opens a new chapter under the leadership of Akira Takeda, Permanent Conductor of the Omiya Wind Symphony. With a distinguished background in the Japan Ground Self Defense Force Music Corps, including his tenure as Chief of the Central Band from 2007 to 2017, he brings experience shaped by national ceremonies and international performances in South Korea, Finland, and the United States.
Sharing the stage this time is OBOG Wind Symphony, led by Mr Lim Yean Hwee, another reflection of the vibrant community wind band culture that connects both nations. The two bands will come together for combined items, a visible expression of partnership, friendship, and shared musical purpose.
For audiences in Singapore, this concert is more than a performance. It is a welcome back.
It is an opportunity to witness how a band has grown since its earlier visits, how friendships have endured, and how the spirit of exchange continues while honouring the legacy of Professor Akiyama.
OMIYA in Concert is a return built on memory, strengthened by time, and sustained by the belief that music, once shared, continues to resonate.
Sunday, 15 February 2026
Victoria Concert Hall, 5pm