The Brazilian-born Japanese Contrabassist Hiroshi Ikematsu has gained his fame through a variety of music activities. He is uniquely talented and regarded as one of the leading contrabassists in Japan.
Hiroshi started to play the contrabass at the age of 19. He studied at the TOHO Music College under Mr. Shunsaku Tsutsumi. He has been the regular participant of the prominent contrabass workshop and festival in Canada by Gary Karr.
In 1989, Hiroshi joined the NHK Symphony Orchestra in Tokyo, appointed as Principal Contrabassist in 1994. In 2006, he immigrated to New Zealand and joined NZSO as Principal Contrabassist.
In 2014 Hiroshi moved back to Japan and became Principal Contrabassist with Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra. He is also a member of Saito Kinen Orchestra, Mito Chamber Orchestra and Kioi Hall Chamber Orchestra.
Hiroshi is Associate Professor at Tokyo University of the Arts and Visiting Professor at Kunitachi Music College. Hehas released eight solo CDs featuring sonatas by Rachmaninoff, Chopin and Franck.
Hiroshi loves fishing and he won the 2013 New Zealand National Pairs Fly Fishing championships.