HarrisonParrott announces that the celebrated composer and conductor Joe Hisaishi has joined its roster for global management.

Hisaishi began his career as a contemporary music composer and started to develop his unique style in minimal music when he graduated from conservatory in Japan. The premiere of MKWAJU in 1981 and the release of his first album Information in the following year was the start of his career as a solo artist. Renowned for his long-standing collaboration with Japanese anime director Hayao Miyazaki and the Studio Ghibli films, Hisaishi has won top level international awards for his scores both on the screen and on the concert platform. His popular soundtracks for Spirited Away, My Neighbour Totoro, Howl’s Moving Castle, Kiki’s Delivery Service, and Ponyo amongst others, capture his sensitive and imaginative melding of symphonic, jazz, electronic and minimalist genres, also mirrored in his Symphonies 1, 2 and 3, The End of the World and his concerti for violin, viola and contrabass. With nearly 40 solo albums and over 100 film scores, he is one of the most celebrated composers of our time.

As a conductor, Hisaishi’s recent symphonic highlights include Chicago Symphony, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Toronto and Seattle Symphony Orchestras, Royal and Helsinki Philharmonic orchestras and Wiener Symphoniker. This week, he debuts with San Francisco Symphony Orchestra and later in the 2024/25 with Philadelphia and Bordeaux Aquitaine National Orchestras. After a successful debut at the Hollywood Bowl in 2023, Hisaishi returns to Los Angeles Philharmonic for the world premiere of his Harp Concerto, commissioned by the orchestra and performed by their own harpist, Emmanuel Ceysson. Hisaishi established his own orchestra ​“Future Orchestra Classics (FOC)” in July 2019, and recorded the complete symphony cycles of Beethoven and Brahms.



His extraordinary fanbase for his music, in any form, sells out venues across the globe. Recent highlights include three sold-out evenings at Madison Square Garden in May 2024, La Defense in Paris and Olympic Hall in Munich. Autumn 2024 sees a two-day residency at Royal Albert Hall in London where he brings ​‘Hisaishi Symphonic’ live shows, including Princess Mononoke Suite, his Symphony No.2, as well as Britten’s Four Sea Interludes with Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. 
 
​“Alfred Hitchcock and Bernard Herrmann, Sergio Leone and Ennio Morricone, Steven Spielberg and John Williams: Some of the greatest filmmakers have cultivated enduring mutually enriching relationships with musicians. The decades-long partnership between the Japanese animation master Hayao Miyazaki and the composer, pianist and conductor Joe Hisaishi certainly belongs in this hall of fame.” 

- NY Times

A passionate and dedicated pioneer of contemporary music, Hisaishi recently conducted the Japanese premiere of Steve Reich’s The Desert Music at Suntory Hall. He frequently collaborates with experimental artists of the highest calibre such as Nico Muhly, Bryce Dessner, Phillip Glass and Terry Reilly. His series MUSIC FUTURE brings together the works and talents of these notable collaborators. Volume 11 of the series was presented in Tokyo in summer 2024, and he has also previously travelled with the series to Carnegie Hall in New York in 2022 and Seattle in 2024. 

A Deutsche Grammophon exclusive artist, Hisaishi has released the titles Merry-Go-Round of Life and A Symphonic Celebration, both of which are new arrangements that bring a fresh excitement to his Studio Ghibli masterpieces. His most recent recording, Joe Hisaishi in Vienna, features the world premiere recordings of two of his compositions – Symphony No.2 and Viola Saga with Wiener Symphoniker and soloist Antoine Tamestit. 

” It is a tremendous honour that Joe Hisaishi, the great composer, conductor, and magician of the power of contemporary music and live symphonic concerts, has asked us to be his worldwide partners in the management of his successful international performing life.

Japan with its peerless culture and hugely creative people has been a major part of my life ever since my first stay there in 1975 and my more than 75 visits since. 

It is a great privilege for us to work with him in spreading his wonderful music to ever growing, diverse and loyal audiences around the world and we look forward with excitement to our future collaboration.”

- Jasper Parrott 
Executive Chairman HP Group & Associated Companies

 
Hisaishi is the recipient of both the Medal of Honor with Purple Ribbon, received in 2009, and The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette, in 2023 from the government of Japan. Hisaishi is Music Partner with New Japan Philharmonic Orchestra, and from 2021, Principal Guest Conductor with Japan Century Symphony Orchestra where he is the Music Director designate from 2025/26 season. Hisaishi was also appointed as Composer in Association of Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in April 2024.

HarrisonParrott represents Joe Hisaishi for worldwide general management.



For more information, please contact jasper.​parrott@​harrisonparrott.​co.​uk, moema.​parrott@​harrisonparrott.​co.​uk​and JH@​harrisonparrott.​co.​uk.