Hitoshi Suzuki is the Principal Conductor of the Mid-Somerset Orchestra in the U.K. He has previously won an audience prize at the Opéra de Baugé International Conducting Competition in July 2018 and 2nd prize at the London Classical Soloists Conducting Competition in April 2016. He holds Master of Arts in Music (Orchestra Conducting) with distinction from the Conservatoire royal de Bruxelles, where he received scholarships from Flemish Government and the French-speaking Community of Belgium. Hitoshi has studied Orchestra Conducting with John Farrer (Director, London Conducting Workshop) and Neil Thomson (Former Head of Conducing, Royal College of Music) in London, Mark Heron (Tutor in Conducting, RNCM) in Manchester and Philippe Gérard (Professeur en Direction d'orchestre, Conservatoire royal de Bruxelles) in Brussels. He has participated in various masterclasses and competitions which include; Opéra de Baugé International Conducting Competition (France 2018), International Conducting Competition Jeunesses Musicales Bucharest (Romania 2017), Audite International Conducting Competition (Poland 2017), argovia philharmonic (Switzerland 2017), Moravian Philharmonic Orchestra (Czech Republic 2017), Felix Mendelssohn International Conducting Competition (Greece 2016), International Conducting Competition ‘Nino Rota’ (Matera, Italy 2016), Camerata Antonio Soler (Spain 2016), Brașov Philharmonic Orchestra (Romania 2016), London Classical Soloists (U.K. 2016), London Conducting Workshop (U.K. 2015), RNCM Conducting Masterclasses (U.K. 2012), Accademia Musicale Chigiana (Italy 2010), Weimarer Meisterkurse (Germany 2007) and Tokyo University of the Arts (Japan 2006). Hitoshi initially studied as a violinist at the Royal Northern College of Music in the U.K. and the Koninklijk Conservatorium Antwerpen in Belgium where he completed Bachelor of Arts in Music. He holds Master of Science in Management from the Vrije Universiteit Brussel. (01/06/20 updated)