FUNKARU ARE:

Hidenori Arai / Euphonium

Hidenori Arai is very active as a freelance Euphonium player, performing as soloist and ensemble player as well as a guest player in orchestras and wind bands.

He currently serves as a lecturer at Senzoku-Gakuen College of Music and executive director of the Japan Euphonium Tuba Association.

He graduated from Senzoku-Gakuen College of Music with highest honors - at the top of all classes. 

Prizes include 3rd prize at the 5th Jeju International Brass Competition, 3rd prize at the 26th Japan Wind and Percussion Competition and 1st prize at the 7th Tsuken Concours.

As an artist and educator, he has also appeared at many festivals, academies and conferences including “Asia Tuba Euphonium Festival 2016-2018” and “International Tuba Euphonium Conference 2019” in Iowa.

He has released two CDs; “Nasota” in 2017 and “Changing Weather” in 2019.

Kyohei Ando / Euphonium

Kyohei Ando is Lecturer of Euphonium at the Kunitachi College of Music (Tokyo), J. F. Oberlin University (Kanagawa), and Sapporo Otani University. He holds a Bachelor of Euphonium performance degree from the Kunitachi College of Music and a Master of Music in Euphonium performance from the University of Alabama, and his primary teachers were Toru Miura, Kozo Takeuchi, Dr. Mitsuru Saito, Dr. Demondrae Thurman and Hiro Noguchi.

He has won many international competitions, such as the Japan Wind and Percussion Solo Competition and the Leonard Falcone Euphonium Solo Competition.

He is also working as an active freelance Euphonium player for many Japanese professional orchestras, wind ensembles and chamber groups. 

He has released a solo album “Dream” and chamber ensemble CDs as a member of "Boreas Quartet" and the chamber wind ensemble “Spiel kammerensemble”.

Gideon Juckes / Tuba

Gideon Juckes is a British tuba player currently living in Tokyo.

He studied music at The Junior Royal Academy of Music and University of London.

He plays a wide range of genres, from classical to free jazz, specialising in improvisation and composition, as well as researching traditional grooves from around the world.  Currently, he plays with FU-CHING-GIDO (www.fu-ching-gido.com) and is known for his work with artists such as Sigur Ròs, Charan-Po-Rantan, Cicala Mvta, and theatre director Kushida Kazuyoshi.

Taishi Furumoto / Tuba

Graduated from Aichi University of the Arts.

Second place in the ITEC2004 International Tuba Competition (Hungary). First place in the 21st Japan Wind and Percussion Competition. Third place in Jeju 2012 International Brass and Percussion Competition.

He was a member of Asian Youth Orchestra 2002, Tokyo no Opera no Mori 2014, and Ozawa Seiji Music Academy 2014.

In addition to classical music, he has gained popularity in musical theatre, such as "CHICAGO" and "Nihon no Rekishi", and has recorded many commercials and film soundtracks, and co-starred with artists from many genres.

In January 2016, he became principal Tuba of the Hiroshima Symphony Orchestra. He is part-time lecturer at Kunitachi Conservatory, Elizabeth College of Music and Hiroshima Bunka Gakuen University.

In April 2017, his debut solo CD “Taishi Trilogy!” was released.

TRACK LISTING

1. Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious // Robert Bernard Sherman, arr. Hiroki Takahashi

2. The Girl from Ipanema // Antônio Carlos Jobim, arr. Hidenori Arai

3-5. 3 Milongas // Enrique Crespo

6. Over the Rainbow // Harold Arlen, arr. Akira Miyagawa

7. What a Happy Euph Tuba Day!! // Hidenori Arai

8-10. Urban Suite // Shawn Kelley

12. Spain // Chick Corea, arr. Hidenori Arai

13. One Day Funk // Hidenori Arai

Recording Date: September 3 - 5, 2019

Location: Small Hall of “Saitama Prefectural Citizens’ Activities General Center”, Japan

Producer: FUNKARU

Recording Engineer: 三國浩平 Kohei Mikuni

Edit and Mixing: ギデオン・ジュークス Gideon Juckes

Mastering: 鈴木一緒 Kazuo Suzuki

Artwork and Design: 佐藤祐也 Yuya Sato

Special Thanks to: Kazuo Suzuki, Takashi Kamada, Takumi Sakata