It's really light and easily to make heavy attacks in conducting.
I love it! This baton is also used by many great conductors (Manfred Honeck, Fabio Luisi, and Tan Dun).
I love these batons! Very light and easy to conduct.
PICKBOY Baton Ambassador | Koji Kawamoto
PICKBOY Baton Ambassador | Koji Kawamoto
Photo: Ayane Shindo
Conductor Mr. Koji Kawamoto has conducted numerous orchestra and opera performances both domestically and internationally for many years, earning the trust of many performers due to his rich experience and deep musical understanding.
In the development of PICKBOY's baton, he is an important presence who delivers voices from the field, and we introduce him as an ambassador with our heartfelt respect.
Activity history and current model in use
Mr. Kawamoto has served as the principal conductor of the German Vorpommern Theater, the principal conductor of the North East Germany Philharmonic, and the music director of the Pilsen Radio Symphony Orchestra, and is currently active as the honorary guest conductor of the Xi'an Symphony Orchestra.
Your beloved PICKBOY baton:
- FTK‑150EB/W (Grip: Ebony)
- FTK‑150RW/W (Grip: Rosewood)
All are 260mm in total length, with a grip size of 50×12mm.
The idea that a baton is also an 'instrument'
"I believe that a baton is also an instrument."
Mr. Kawamoto speaks of this, deeply focusing on the changes in sound and how it is conveyed to the performer due to differences in the length, thickness, weight, and material of the baton, stating that he has used more than 10 different ones.
Searching for the one that suits you
Choosing a baton that suits you is the first step in music creation" — says Mr. Kawamoto, who places great importance on the fit of the grip and the balance of length.
Currently, he primarily uses a shorter model of 26cm, and depending on the piece and the hall's acoustics, he varies the materials (ebony and rosewood).
'I use ebony 90% of the time, but there are also moments when the sound of rosewood feels just right,' showing his attention to even subtle nuances.
About how to choose a baton
Mr. Kawamoto states that 'being able to support naturally without unnecessary force' and 'having such good balance that you forget you are holding it' are the conditions for a good baton.
He also mentioned about the choice of materials, saying, 'More than gender or physique, the most important thing is whether it fits in the hand.'
Comment from Mr. Kawamoto
A baton is not just a tool.
It is a 'guide' that conveys the will of the music.
The most important thing for me is that it can be used so naturally that I forget I am holding it.
What I want to convey through the baton
While continuing to use the PICKBOY baton, Mr. Kawamoto mentioned, 'I have had more opportunities to be asked about the baton after concerts.'
I am deeply grateful that by using it myself, it has become a new option for other conductors and young musicians, and the charm of PICKBOY is spreading.
Profile
Koji Kawamoto
Born in Shimane Prefecture. Graduated from the Conducting Department of the Faculty of Music at Tokyo University of the Arts. During his studies, he studied conducting under Hiroshi Wakasugi, Hiroyuki Odan, Masako Endo, Francis Travis, and in master classes with Valery Gergiev and Sergiu Celibidache. After moving to the United States, he furthered his studies under Gustav Meyer, an emeritus professor at the University of Michigan. He also received direct guidance from his lifelong mentor, Charles Dutoit, around the world, mastering the essence of the 'wizard of sound.'
He won an award at the 10th Tokyo International Conducting Competition (formerly the conducting section of the Tokyo International Music Competition) at the age of 22. He placed third in the conducting section of the 59th 'Prague Spring' International Music Competition.
In 1995, he made his debut conducting the Tokyo City Philharmonic Orchestra, the Osaka Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Kyushu Symphony Orchestra. Since then, he has collaborated with various orchestras, including the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra, the New Japan Philharmonic Orchestra, the Sapporo Symphony Orchestra, the Kyoto City Symphony Orchestra, the Sendai Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Hiroshima Symphony Orchestra.
Since 2001, he has moved his base of activities to Germany and has developed an international conducting career. He has served as the principal conductor of the German Vorpommern Theater, the chief conductor of the Northeast German Philharmonic Orchestra, and the music director of the Pilsen Radio Symphony Orchestra. In 2021, he was appointed honorary guest conductor of the Xi'an Symphony Orchestra.
So far, he has continued to guest with over 50 orchestras in Europe, North America, South America, Russia, Africa, and Asia, including prestigious Eastern European orchestras such as the Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra, the Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra, the Thüringen Philharmonic Orchestra, the Würzburg Mainfranken Theater, the Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra, the Ontario Philharmonic, the Krasnoyarsk Symphony Orchestra, the National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine in Dnipro, the Istanbul State Symphony Orchestra, the Malaga Symphony Orchestra in Spain, the Concepción Symphony Orchestra in Chile, the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra, the Royal Bangkok Symphony Orchestra, the Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra, the Xi'an Symphony Orchestra, the Qingdao Symphony Orchestra, and the Guiyang Symphony Orchestra, and is scheduled to perform regularly in the future.
Official website
Get to know Mr. Kawamoto better
We are publishing explanatory content by Mr. Kawamoto regarding how to choose a baton and demonstrations.
This page is composed based on interviews and publication permissions from Mr. Koji Kawamoto, who is a loyal user of the PICKBOY baton.