Kazuo Kanemaki was born 1949 in Tokyo, Japan. From 1968 to 1972 he studied horn and piano at the Tokyo College of Music and played as a hornist at the Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra.
In 1974 he moved to Hamburg and studied musicology from 1975 to 1976 at Hamburg University and conducting as his major in 1977 at the College for Music and Theater Hamburg. At the same time he was an assistant at the Hamburg Youth Orechtra. In 1984 he finished his studies in conducting.
Kazuo is currently leading 7 choirs in Hamburg and surrounding areas. With these he frequently performs at the Laeiszhalle, but also conducts in various churches or the Elbphilharmonie. Additionally, he is often abroad, not only taking his choirs to Japan and China but also conducting orchestras like the Metropolitan Orechstra of New York or the Vienna Symphony Orchestra.
In 2001 Kazuo Kanemaki was presented the medal of honour “Portugaleser Bürger danken” in Silver, a price that had before been bestowed upon former chancellor Helmut Schmidt, composer Rolf Liebermann and publisher Axel Springer.
Kazuo Kanemaki was entrusted with all international Summer Academies of the ICOM (International College of Music) and is a symbol of integration and understanding between nationalities and peoples. Since 2003 he is the vice president of the German-Japanese Society in Hamburg.
Kazuo Kanemaki who ideally combines the different functions of choir and orchestra conductor is increasingly presented with opportunities to showcase his skills in an international context and enjoys great acclaim. His ability to motivate choirs and orchestras with his expressive conducting as well as inspiring the audience results in magnificent concerts that are enjoyed by all parties.