How to choose a conductor's baton, answered by Mr. Kawamoto | PICKBOY Official

🎵 Consultations are open

“I don’t know what kind of baton to choose” or “I don’t really understand the differences in weight and length”...
For those of you with such questions and concerns, PICKBOY ambassador and conductor Koji Kawamoto, who performs on the world stage, will provide professional advice from his perspective.

You can ask questions via Instagram or DM on X (formerly Twitter),
or through the contact form.
We may also introduce your inquiry in a post (anonymous is fine).
Feel free to reach out.

※In case of a large number of inquiries, we may limit responses to〈5 people only〉. Thank you for your understanding.

💬 For example, questions like this

• How should I choose my first one?
• Is it okay to use the same baton for both rehearsals and performances?
• What should I base my choice of length and weight on?
• Which grip material suits me best?

🎬 A video on choosing a baton by Professor Kawamoto is also available!

The video series 'How to Choose a Baton' by PICKBOY Ambassador Professor Koji Kawamoto is now available.
It clearly explains the differences in weight, length, and balance of batons with demonstrations.

▶ Here is the page with video explanations .

👤 Profile of Professor Koji Kawamoto

Born in Shimane Prefecture. Graduated from the Conducting Department of the Tokyo University of the Arts. During my studies, I studied conducting with Hiroshi Wakasugi, Hiroyuki Ohtano, Masako Endo, Francis Travis, and in master classes with Valery Gergiev and Sergiu Celibidache. After moving to the United States, I furthered my studies under Gustav Meyer, an honorary professor at the University of Michigan. I also received direct guidance from my lifelong mentor, Charles Dutoit, in various locations around the world, mastering the essence of the 'magician of sound.'

At the age of 22, I won an award at the 10th Tokyo International Conducting Competition (formerly the Tokyo International Music Competition Conducting Division). I placed 3rd in the conducting division of the 59th 'Prague Spring' International Music Competition.

In 1995, he made his debut conducting the Tokyo City Philharmonic Orchestra, the Osaka Philharmonic Symphony 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 Vorpommern State Theatre in Germany, the chief conductor of the North East 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 performed as a guest with over 50 orchestras from Europe, North America, South America, Russia, Africa, and Asia, including prestigious Eastern European orchestras such as the Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra and the Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra, as well as the Thüringen Philharmonic Orchestra, Würzburg Mainfranken Theater, Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra, Ontario Philharmonic, Krasnoyarsk Symphony Orchestra, Ukraine National Dnipro Philharmonic Orchestra, Istanbul State Symphony Orchestra, Spain Malaga Symphony Orchestra, Chile Concepción Symphony Orchestra, Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Bangkok Symphony Orchestra, Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra, Xi'an Symphony Orchestra, Qingdao Symphony Orchestra, and Guiyang Symphony Orchestra, and he is scheduled to continue performing in regular concerts in the future.

For more details, please visit the official website.