2021年、『コンサート・マーチ「シャイニング・ソウル4」』がイタリア・アッルミエーレで開催された「第6回国際行進曲作曲コンクール: Città di Allumiere」の「コンサート・マーチ」部門で第2位を受賞。 2023年には『コンサート・マーチ「シャイニング・ソウル3」』が同コンクール(第7回)にて「コンサート・マーチ」部門第1位、並びに「ロッサーノ・カルディナーリ・トロフィ」(総合一位)を獲得。 また、2021年には、『ソナタ・メカニカ 〜独奏ユーフォニアムのための』と『巡礼:春 〜ヴァイオリン、チェロとピアノのために』が「第1回トリニティ国際音楽コンクール」(カナダ・トロント/オンライン)の「作曲(プロフェッショナル)」部門で金賞を受賞した。『巡礼:春 』は、同年の「ティツィアーノ・ロセッティ国際音楽コンクール」(スイス・ルガーノ/オンライン)でも第2位となった。 2026年、吹奏楽曲『シンフォニエッタ・ロザリウム』が「第6回トリニティ国際音楽コンクール」(カナダ・トロント/オンライン)の「作曲(プロフェッショナル)」部門でプラチナ賞を受賞。
Ken’ichi Masakado was born in Kasuga City, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan, in October 1966. He began playing the trombone at the age of twelve. After performing in his junior high school band and a local community band, he entered Musashino Academia Musicae in 1985. He majored in musicology, primarily studying modern and contemporary music under Professor Akimichi Takeda, and earned his Bachelor of Arts degree with a thesis on the symphonies of Arthur Honegger. During his time at Musashino, he also deepened his knowledge of wind band and wind ensemble music under Toshio Akiyama.
After graduating, Masakado worked at an advertising agency in his home prefecture of Fukuoka while remaining active as a trombonist and assistant conductor in a local civic wind band. Simultaneously, he began working earnest in composition and arrangement.
In 1998, “EMBLEMS, Militaly March” was selected the 9th Asahi Composition Award (wind music). This piece was selected for the required piece for the 1999 All Japan Band Competition. It has also been selected as the test piece for the band competitions in Taiwan twice (2009 and 2013).
Since then, Masakado has composed and arranged numerous works, primarily for wind bands and wind instruments. His compositions have been performed by leading professional ensembles in Japan, such as the Hiroshima Wind Orchestra and the Kyushu Wind Orchestra, as well as amateur groups nationwide. Furthermore, many of his works have been published in both Japan and Italy, and are widely performed not only in Japan but also across Europe and the Americas.
2003, he was appointed Director of the Kitakyushu City Fire Department Band. During his tenure through December 2005, he conducted approximately 500 concerts and ceremonies while composing and arranging music for the ensemble. In January 2006, he became Director of the Oita Prefectural Police Band, conducting approximately 500 concerts and ceremonies until March 2017. In 2008, produced ceremony music for the National Sports Festival and conducted the ceremony band and chorus.
In 2021, “Shining Soul 4, Concert March” won the second prize at the “Concert March” category of the “6th International Composition Competition for Marches : Città di Allumiere” held in Allumierre, Italy. In 2023, “Shining Soul 3, Concert March” was awarded first prize in the “Concert March” category of the same competition, and received the “Rossano Cardinali Trophy” (overall first prize).
Also in 2021, “Sonata meccanica ~ for Solo Euphonium” and “Pilgrimage : Spring ~ for Violin, Violoncello and Piano” won the gold medal at the “Trinity International Music Competition” held in Toronto, Canada. “Pilgrimage : Spring” also won second prize at the “Tiziano Rossetti International Music Competition” held in Switzerland, in 2021. In 2026, “Sinfonietta rosarium” (for Wind Band) won the pratinum medal at the “Trinity International Music Competition” held in Toronto, Canada.
Currently based in Oita City, in addition to my composing, arranging and conducting activities, I also serves as a competition adjudicator, researcher, and author.
Committee Member of the Oita Prefecture Music Association (since July 2026) Member of the The International Society for Research and Promotion of Wind Music (IGEB) (since August 2026)