Biography

Hiroyuki Sato is a graduate of Hokkaido University in Sapporo, Japan. Further studies include the Conservatoire Diplomat course in clarinet at Shobi College of Music. While in the school, he was awarded full scholarship for his outstanding performing skills, having also won numerous prizes in competitions, including: The national tournament of Japan Classical Music Competition College Division, the 17th Takarazuka Vega Music Competition, Divisional 1st prize, Sponsor’s award, and grand Prix at the 1st Japan Clarinet and Honorable Mention award at the Bravissimo Classica 2001 Competition.

Notable performances that Sato has given include: Tokyo Bunka Kaikan Young Artists

Gala Concert and solo recitals at the Tokyo Bunka Kaikan Hall and the Sapporo Concert Hall “kitara.” He was also selected as a performer in the Young Artist Gala Concert by the Japan Federation of Musicians, performing as a soloist with the Sapporo Symphony Orchestra at its 118th anniversary concert.

As a clarinetist, Sato is a featured guest artist in many professional orchestras around Tokyo, while also teaching clarinet in Tokyo, Osaka, and Sapporo. His fields of study and teaching including the study of breathing techniques, efficient use of body mechanics, and practical solfege for wind instrumentalists. Sato has crafted these studies to help artists build dramatic tone color based on the art of solfege in rehearsal and performance.

Sato is also active as a conductor and composer. As a conductor, he won the highest score in the category at the International Music Festival for Youth, Neerpelt (Belgium), the Special Gold Prize and Grand Prix at the International Festival of Wind Orchestras Prague (Czech Republic), and the highest score, First Prize, and Special Award at the Sinnai International Wind Band Competition (Italy).

In addition to his performing, conducting and composing, Sato is the musical director of Wind Ensemble Decancer and S Clarinet Choir Tokyo, Osaka, and Sapporo. He also pays a lot of attention in international exchange and since 2017, organized concerts in Rome, Florence, Lendinara, and Tresigallo in Italy. In February 2019, he conducted a mass at the Papal Basilica of St. Peter in the Vatican.

Sato studied clarinet with Daizaburo Watanabe, Tadayoshi Takeda, Hirotaka Ito, Koichi Hamanaka, Pascal Moraguès, and Michel Arrignon.

Hiroyuki Sato is a Backun Artist and performs on Backun Lumiere Cocobolo Gold Clarinets with CG Crystal Mouthpieces.