Anna Hashimoto (ARAM)’s career encompasses appearances as a soloist and orchestral musician alongside a commitment to education. As a soloist Anna has worked with conductors such as Vladimir Ashkenazy, Myung-Whun Chung and Martyn Brabbins, and performed chamber music collaborations with artists such as Michael Collins, Leon McCawley, and the Endellion, Maxwell and Kodaly String Quartets. She is a founding member of the Atéa Quintet, who is Associate Ensemble in Residence at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. Anna teaches clarinet and E-flat clarinet at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, and tutors on courses for the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain, Vacation Chamber Orchestra, Sound and Music Summer School for young composers, and Dartington International Summer School & Festival. She has appeared as guest principal clarinet with orchestras such as the BBC Symphony Orchestra, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Japan Chamber Orchestra, and the Flanders Symphony Orchestra.
“Ever since I started the clarinet I have hugely admired Michael Collins. Even as a nine year old I felt something incredibly engaging, almost magical, about his interpretation of all repertoire. I used to skip school to attend his masterclasses and was able to study with Michael for my sixth form and my undergraduate, and learned so much about spontaneity and performance.
I strongly believe that my role as a teacher is to draw out the highest potential in each student. Rather than sharing my interpretation as the ‘right’ way, I try as much as possible to share my personal experience, why I would choose certain ways to play things, but leave room for different ideas to blossom. My wish is that students become more and more confident and find their own voice.
Which is my biggest achievement is a difficult question. Practically speaking, I think that winning the international Clarinet Competition in Kortrijk back in 2010 opened many doors for my career. I also went on to release 3 solo CD albums, and this was always a challenge at the time but something I can look back on now with great appreciation to have been able to record them.
Who inspires me is another tough question! Clarinet wise, as I’ve shared I’m a huge fan of Michael Collins. I also love hearing Andrew Marriner in the LSO, and Philippe Cuper playing Francaix. However I feel constantly inspired by many, many performers on records, listening to concerts, and also working with fantastic colleagues. So I feel I cannot mention any more names as the list is too long!
There are so many important humanitarian concerns, and so much change that needs to happen. One of the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals is Gender Equality. For me this is deeply important and I’ve seen how much work needs to be done, more so in some countries than others. Especially in Japan I have encountered sexist remarks and very dated ways of thinking, and can see how many young women can be discouraged from pursuing their dreams because of societal pressure. I also had the great fortune to work on a project mentoring and working side-by-side with the Afghan Women’s Orchestra when they came to the UK, and understanding how brave these women are, I felt the importance of having role models for the next generation.
The first CD on my list if I were to be on a deserted island is Jean Francaix’s Clarinet Concerto recorded by Phllippe Cuper. It never fails to cheer me up, and I’m tempted to have the slow movement played at my funeral. The second CD, if I’m choosing today, is Britten’s War Requiem, the original 1963 recording. The final disc might be something I can ‘chill’ with, like the Lord of the Rings soundtrack, or a Studio Ghibli film music collection…”