Makoto Hondo

Japanese saxophonist Makoto Hondo passionate in the repertoire of baritone saxophone, collaborating with several composers, and making transcriptions or arrangements by himself.

His first CD BARITONISM - Russian Cello works with the program of 2 Sonatas of Rachmainov and Shostakovich received the 56th Record Academy Awards Japan by Record Geijutsu.

After graduating from the Tokyo University of the Arts, he continued his studies at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et Danse de Paris, and graduated from the saxophone class of Claude Delangle and chamber music class. He studied also at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam in the class of Arno Bornkamp as a exchange student of Erasmus programme.

As a soloist, Makoto won the three 1st prizes of international competitions (Slovenia, France, Andorra), and the 1st prize of the 34th Japan Wind and Percussion Competition in 2017 with the Prime Minister's Award, Special Award and Audience Award.

In regard to chamber music, he won the 2nd prize of the 9th Osaka International Chamber Music Competition (2017), and is currently the baritone saxophonist in the Blue Aurora Saxophone Quartet.

Makoto has received supports from the Yamaha Music Foundation, la Fondation l’Or du Rhin and la Fondation Meyer in France. He teaches at Tokyo University of the Arts and Senzoku Gakuen College of Music in Japan.