Interview with Hiroaki Yura
A Night in Fantasia

Impulsegamer chats with Hiro Yura, the Founder and Director of the Eminence Symphony Orchestra which plays at the Sydney Entertainment Centre on the 26th of September 2009. Tickets can be purchased via www.ticketmaster.com.au.

[IG] Hi Hiroaki, thanks for your time and agreeing to be interviewed by Impulse Gamer, Australia’s largest and oldest independent online review site. Tell us a little about yourself and what were you doing before founding Eminence Symphony Orchestra?

[Hiro] Before I started doing what I am doing now, I was a classical violinist representing Australia and Japan in International Competition. All I performed was classical music and was a solo performer.

[IG] You play the violin, how long did it take to master this instrument?

[Hiro]I don’t think I’ve mastered it yet! I have been playing for 22 years though.

[IG] The violin has the ability to portray a variety of emotions. How do you draw our these emotions and stories from the violin?

[Hiro] Easy. It all comes down to either soft or loud, short or long. These elements when used correctly portray a million emotions. Oh, and a hell of a lot of practice!

[IG] If you could choose to master another instrument, what would it be and why?

[Hiro] I have no desire to master another instrument. I can start thinking about the next instrument once I have mastered the violin.

[IG] How did you come up with the idea of Eminence Symphony Orchestra and what were your motivations?

[Hiro] Eminence Symphony Orchestra’s sole aim, is to have young people who have no prior classical background at all to enjoy concerts performed by classical instrumentalists. Why did I think of it? That’s because all I see in classical concert is a sea of grey hairs or no hairs at all. No offense to the older people who supports us, but if we don’t do something now, by the time I’m at the end of my life, what I love dearly would not exist.

[IG] How many people is part of Eminence Symphony Orchestra?

[Hiro] Currently there are over 120 people in Eminence. If you include people who helped us in that past, well over 300. If you include other companies and people around the world like composers who supports us, 500?

[IG] How long did it take to prepare this latest concert?

[Hiro] 12 months. And we’re still behind schedule!

[IG] With thousands of great musical scores from video games and anime, how did you narrow down your selection? It must have been a difficult task.

[Hiro] I narrowed down the selection through artistic value, what people are familiar with and who would be coming to our concert as our guest. We are constantly over time and yes, it is an extremely hard process

[IG] Although your work load must be quite busy, do you do anything else (musically) aside from Eminence Symphony Orchestra?

[Hiro] Well I guess I get asked to perform for foreign diplomats and functions to perform classical music back in Sydney. Now that I live in Tokyo, I have started to get asked by the Australian Embassy to play at their functions. All very fun! When I have time, I go to live performances by friends like Kow Otani (Shadow of the Colossus) or Minori Chihara (Yuki Nagato from Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya). I want to start a violin centric band and start rocking away too. It seems fun and I want to explore a lot of music as much as I can.

[IG] What’s your favourite video game and why?

[Hiro] That’s a hard question. I have a lot of favourites. I recently quit WoW so that was a big step for me. I think Secret of Mana would be my favourite game overall, as I love the game’s battle system, story, the music and the design.

[IG] What your favourite anime or mainstream movie and why?

[Hiro] Mmmmmm… this question is even harder. I like Hajime no Ippo, it’s a great boxing manga/anime and it depicts such greatness of people who work very hard. In terms of movie, I love “The Professional”, “Snatch”… oh and “Tropic Thunder”. That was an awesome movie.

[IG] What is your favourite piece of music and why?

[Hiro] Music wise, I have a lot of favourites. So I won’t go into it. But let’s talk about what people would know. I do like Black Eyed Peas, Coldplay to Sean Kingston. I don’t listen to much Japanese bands these days since I think a lot of them is just really bad… but I’m secretly hoping the industry would get their act together and make good music like from the 90s era. I’m deliberately not talking about Sound Track because… I won’t.

[IG] What was the hardest aspect of bringing the music of A Night in Fantasia together?

[Hiro] Financing! It costs a lot…

[IG] Can you fill us in as to who the guest stars will be in Australia?

[Hiro] I’m sure that’s all in the media release haha! But they are all cool people I met personally. They are awesome. They are either beautiful, handsome, sexy, pretty, intelligent, cool or a combination (or more) of the above.

[IG] Will there be plans for a Night in Fantasia to tour Australia?

[Hiro] Maybe. One day hopefully!

[IG] What are current and upcoming music CD’s?

[Hiro] We’ll announce that soon but we are doing something really really big. And cool.

[IG]  COSPLAY… who would you dress up as?

[Hiro] Either Ruffy from ONE PIECE or Colonel Mustang from Full Metal Alchemist. Why? Because I have short black hair and I’m slim built.

[IG] Lastly, what can the audience expect on the night of your concert in Sydney?

[Hiro] Pure awesomeness and the absolute best that the human race can offer. Well that’s what the Youtube results said anyway!

[IG] Thanks for the interview Hiro and good luck for a Night in Fantasia!