Wataru Hirai

Born in Kakogawa, Japan, Wataru Hirai graduated from Osaka University of Music before moving to France, where he completed his first cycle in saxophone at the Paris Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse (CNSMDP), graduating top of his class with unanimous honours.

He made a name for himself on the international scene by winning 4th prize at the 8th Adolphe Sax International Competition in Dinant (Belgium). He then won 1st prize at the 11th Andorra Sax Fest, as well as 1st prize, the Minister of Education Prize and the Tokyo Governor's Prize at the 40th Japanese Competition for Wind and Percussion Instruments. He also won 2nd Prize at the 17th Adolphe Sax International Competition (France). His other distinctions include 1st Prize and Grand Prize at the 20th Osaka International Music Competition (Woodwind section, Age-U), 1st prize at the 6th Toyonaka Music Competition (wind instruments, University & General category), First Prize at the 7th Nagoya Saxophone Competition (Ensemble category), and First prize in the Master A category of the Fanny Mendelssohn International Online Competition (chamber music).

As a soloist, he has performed with the College Opera House Orchestra, Casco Phil, the Republican Guard Orchestra, the ONCA Orchestra and the Geidai Philharmonia Orchestra.

He studied saxophone with Miki Tsumura, Jun Nishimoto, Yusuke Izawa, Asako Inoue, Masanori Oishi, Christophe Bois, Claude Delangle, Nicolas Arsenijevic and Joonatan Rautiola.

Photo credit : Takumi Ueda