John August Pamintuan is a renowned Philippine conductor, composer, singer, clinician, and adjudicator. Since 2007, John is recognized by the American Federation of Musicians as an artist of sustained international acclaim.
As a conductor he has given workshops, performed in concerts, and won in competitions in Asia, Europe, and North America. As a singer, he has sung in solo recitals at the St. Petersburg Conservatory, and Moscow Glinka Hall. As a composer, John was awarded the composition prize in Tours (France), Tokyo (Japan) and has written around 450 pieces which have been performed by choirs from 30 countries.
John has been invited in the jury of international choir competitions in Hoi An, Cincinnati, Rimini and Cattolica Italy, Singapore, Penang, Hongkong, Taiwan, Chiang Mai and Bangkok Thailand, Jakarta and Manado Indonesia, Riga Latvia, and the cities of Takarazuka, Kobe, Karuizawa, and Tokyo in Japan. He is also jury for composition contests in Croatia (2011, 2012, 2014), International Federation for Choral Music (2013), and International Choral Composition Competition Japan (2015, 2016, 2018, 2020).
Vytautas Miskinis (born in 1954) is the Artistic Director of the Azuoliukas Boys’ and Men Choir, Professor of Choral conducting at the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre, President of the Lithuanian Choral Union. Graduated as Choral Conductor from Lithuanian Academy of Music in 1976 (conducting class of Prof.H.Perelsteinas) He began his career in Azuoliukas at the age of seven as a vocalist, and continued as Artistic Director from the age of 25. All the achievements of the choir from 1979 have been due to Mr.Miskinis’ leadership.
For several years he conducted the Kaunas State Choir and Vocal Ensemble Museum Musicum. With the choirs he has won prestigious prizes at numerous National and International competitions – in Marktoberdorf, Gorizia, Varna, Maribor, Tampere, Mainhausen, Nantes. Currently Mr.Miskinis is an Artistic Director and Chief Conductor of the All-Lithuanian Choir Festival.
Vytautas Miskinis has led the choral performances in Austria, Byelorussia, Belgium, Canada, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Latvia, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Russia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the Ukraine and USA. A number of compositions for choir with symphonic orchestras have been conducted by Vytautas Miskinis.
He also lectured and held seminars on subject of Musical education and conducting in Lithuania and abroad – in the Czech Republic, Korea, Latvia, Russia, Slovenia, Spain, Singapore, Italy, Poland, Philippines and etc. He has participated in numerous National and International choral events as composer and advisor. He also has led workshops in several countries. Also he actively worked as a member of Jury at International Choir and Choral Composition Competitions in many countries worldwide.
Vytautas Miskinis has composed aprox. 400 religious motets a’cappella, 20 Masses, Magnificat, St .John Passion, Cantatas, 2 Musicals and aprox.400 of secular songs, which are performed and recorded by choirs throughout Lithuania and the rest of the World.. Lithuanian and foreign choirs record his compositions to CD. Mass of compositions are published in Lithuania and also in France, Germany, Slovenia, Italy, Spain, Japan, Singapore, Latvia and USA, Singapore,Austria and etc. He is awarded by many governmental and national prizes.
Composer and conductor born and raised in Tokyo, 1962. Matsushita is currently the conductor and artistic director of 13 choirs, which are often invited to perform in Japan, Europe, America, Canada, and Asia. They have also achieved excellent showings in the choral circuit and won awards in international competitions.
A prolific composer and arranger, Matsushita’s works are performed around the world. His compositions vary widely, ranging from works based on traditional Japanese music, Masses, motets, to etudes for choirs.
His works are published in Japan by Edition KAWAI, Pana Musica, Ongaku no tomo sha Corp., Edition ICOT, and overseas by Carus-Verlag Stuttgart (Germany), SULASOL Helsinki (Finland), among others.
He is currently the CEO of the International Choral Organization of Tokyo, the Artistic Director of the Karuizawa International Choral Festival and the Tokyo International Choir Competition, a member of the Founding Directors of the Asian Choral Association, a member of the Interkurtur World Choir Council, the Vice President of the Tokyo Choral Association, a member of Japan Choral Association Youth Chorus Committee, Furthermore, he is a member of Japan Composers & Arrangers Association, Special Guest Professor at Kobe College.