“Quality” and “Collaboration” are always the keys to creating something of value.
Do chemistry and music have anything in common? The answer is yes! If you cannot imagine what it is, you can check out a classical music concert. What will you find there? At most orchestra or ensemble concerts, you will see that musicians play and collaborate their sounds. The higher the level of expectation for the musicians as a group, the higher the level of quality they must pursue individually. In the same way, chemists explore chemical effects every day by testing various ingredients in their quest for innovation and breakthroughs. “Quality” and “Collaboration” are always the keys to creating something of value.
LANXESS nurtures young talents
For more than 10 years, LANXESS has provided its specialty chemical products and solutions in order to meet the challenges of global trends. As part of the company’s global efforts to develop a sustainable society, LANXESS has been supporting young talent in different fields such as art and science. LANXESS has been working with Japan’s most renowned conductor, Seiji Ozawa, through its support of OICMA since 2011, and also through its support of the Saito Kinen Festival’s Opera for Young People for three years from 2011 to 2013.
“LANXESS’ support of our work will allow many young artists to flourish and hone their craft in the coming years,” Maestro Seiji Ozawa said at a press conference back in 2013. Since then, Maestro Ozawa has been dedicated to the program and has successfully developed it as one of the most competitive training programs for young musical talent in Asia.
OICMA trains students in Asia
Over the years, OICMA has successfully trained more than 120 students. The Academy was founded in June 2011 with the aim of giving talented young musicians from Asia the opportunity to learn string quartet skills under Maestro Seiji Ozawa and a number of world-class chamber music instructors. LANXESS has supported OICMA since its establishment with a founding grant, allowing the academy to run a high-quality training program for young musicians.
In 2016, 24 young string players from countries like Japan, China, and Korea participated in the Academy’s program. The musicians had the opportunity to receive intensive string quartet training from top-level musicians and to perform in Okushiga, Nagano, and Tokyo in the summer. The program reached its finale with closing performances at concert and musical halls in Okushiga and Tokyo.
“Maestro Ozawa gave us enthusiastic instructions and never allowed us to compromise even one note,” one of the young musicians commented after the training session in 2015. Young musicians are expected to achieve “Quality” without compromise in their music, and so is LANXESS as the company puts quality as the core of its activities.
