Mentor/Protégé Program
(6-week Intensive Summer Training in Japanese Heritage Instruments in Tokyo)

To supplement the Gagaku-Hōgaku ensemble classes during the academic year, the Mentor/Protégé Program was launched in 2007 to offer Columbia’s most promising Gagaku-Hōgaku students an opportunity of a six-week intensive summer training in Japanese heritage instruments in Tokyo with first-class master musicians.

Participants (“Protégés”) are provided grants to cover the costs of airfare, housing, and music lessons with such world-renowned master-musicians (“Mentors”) as Mayumi Miyata (shō), Remi Miura (shō), Hitomi Nakamura (hichiriki), Takeshi Sasamoto (ryūteki), Satomi Fukami (koto), Aimi Fukami (koto), Junsuke Kawase (shakuhachi) and Yosuke Kawase (shakuhachi). Protégés in Gagaku also receive group lessons at Kunitachi College of Music, Ono Gagaku Society, etc.

To qualify, students must have enrolled in at least one semester of “World Music Ensemble – Gagaku” or “World Music Ensemble – Hōgaku.” Knowledge of the Japanese language is not required. The program usually runs from late May until early July. Application forms need to be obtained by emailing medievaljapan[at]columbia.edu. The application period is from February 1 through 28 every year, and selections will be announced by March 31.

Partially supported by the Tides Foundation, the Toshiba International Foundation, the Japan Foundation, and other anonymous organizations and individuals.

Collaborators (past and present) include Musashino Instruments, Ltd., Kunitachi College of Music, Ono Gagaku Society, the Japan Foundation Japanese-Language Institute (Urawa), and the International House of Japan.