Three Years at PAC | 兵庫芸術文化センター管弦楽団

Three Years at PAC Start your career
in Japan

What if your next orchestra were in Japan?
Hyogo Performing Arts Center Orchestra (PAC) brings together talented young musicians from Japan and around the world. For up to three years, you will work as a professional orchestral musician, perform with internationally renowned artists, and gain the experience to take your career further.
Discover what your life at PAC could look like.

01 PROFESSIONALACADEMY

Perform as a professional.
Grow as a musician

PAC serves as both a professional orchestra and a training ground for young musicians, offering opportunities to develop their skills through real-world performance experience.
Work with Artistic Director Yutaka Sado, internationally renowned conductors and soloists, and perform alongside experienced guest musicians from orchestras in Japan and abroad.

02 Make music in Japan
— and make a life here

PAC is based in Nishinomiya, between Osaka and Kobe, with Kyoto also within easy reach.
Members have access to affordable housing with a soundproof room, as well as individual practice rooms at the Hyogo Performing Arts Center. PAC also helps international members settle into life in Japan, including support with essential procedures such as local registration and opening a bank account.

LIFE IN NISHINOMIYAWhat does
everyday life cost?

¥100

Bottled Water
(500 ml)

¥190

Hamburger

¥800-1,200

A Bowl of Ramen

¥280

Train to Osaka-Umeda
(One Way)

*Prices are approximate and may vary by store or location. As of October 2026.

03 AN INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENT

Language support is also fully available

Rehearsals are conducted in English, and important information is provided in both English and Japanese.
From your first days at PAC, you will make music with colleagues from Japan and around the world.

04 ON STAGE

This is where you build experience

Your PAC experience begins in September with the three-day Season Opening Festival, where you make music with Artistic Director Yutaka Sado, experienced guest players and your new colleagues.
Throughout the season, perform in subscription concerts, opera, chamber music, outreach programs and more. Each season features nine subscription concert programs, each performed three times, and one opera production with eight performances.
Across these performances, gain valuable stage experience working with internationally renowned conductors and soloists, and performing alongside experienced guest players from professional orchestras in Japan and abroad.

subscription
programs
per season

performances
per program

opera
production
per season

performances
per production

05 YOUR NEXT STEP

PAC is one step—
not the final destination

Alongside your daily orchestral work, mock auditions and masterclasses provide opportunities to prepare for your next career step.
PAC also provides information on professional orchestra auditions and competitions in Japan and abroad, as well as financial support for travel to overseas orchestra auditions.
For more than 20 years, PAC has helped young musicians take their next professional steps. Today, PAC alumni can be found in orchestras across Japan and around the world.

more than80

orchestras

more than140

alumni