WataruHirai

Born in Hyogo, Japan, Wataru Hirai graduated from Osaka College of Music before moving to France to pursue further studies. He graduated from the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris with Très bien à l’unanimité avec les félicitations du jury.

He gained international recognition after winning Fourth Prize at the 8th Adolphe Sax International Competition in Dinant.

His accolades include First Prize at the 11th Andorra Sax Fest; First Prize in the saxophone division of the 40th Japan Wind and Percussion Competition, along with the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Award and the Tokyo Governor’s Award; Second Prize at the 17th Adolphe Sax International Competition in France; and First Prize in the Woodwind Division (Age-U) at the 20th Osaka International Music Competition, where he also won the Grand Prix at the Grand Final. He has received numerous other prizes at competitions in Japan and abroad.

As a soloist, he has performed with orchestras including the College Opera House Orchestra, the Casco Philharmonic Orchestra, the Orchestre de la Garde républicaine de Paris, the ONCA Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Geidai Philharmonia Orchestra.

He is the soprano saxophonist of Quatuor La Fusion and an artist of Henri Selmer Paris and JLV Sound Paris.