Tokyo University of the Arts has received 10 violas, 10 bows and 10 cases from Makoto Takeuchi, director of Medley, Inc., to support student music education, according to PR TIMES. The donation was arranged through an introduction by Takafumi Takahashi, who previously donated 35 upright pianos to the university.
PR TIMES reported that the university’s existing violas were 40 to 50 years old and deteriorating. Students majoring in violin frequently switch to viola for regular concerts and chamber music classes, and the attached high school needed instruments sized to fit each pupil’s body and arm length. The lending inventory had become extremely tight, and budget constraints had delayed replacements.
Takeuchi, who personally lends instruments to young string players through collaborations with music stores, inspected the university and spoke with string faculty including Music Dean Fuyuko Fukunaka and viola professor Toshihiko Ichitsubo. He told PR TIMES that his own student experience of giving up opportunities due to financial circumstances drove his belief that young people’s potential should not be limited by their environment.
The university said the donated instruments will be used to cultivate young artists, giving students irreplaceable performance experiences during their enrollment.
For more information, visit prtimes.jp.