Sakae Sakakibara, the Principal Guest Conductor of the Suk Chamber Orchestra in Prague, the Principal Guest Conductor of the Kiev National Chamber Orchestra, and the Music Director and Conductor of the Ryuyo Festival Orchestra is one of the most sought after conductors in Japan. Sakae Sakakibara graduated from the Tokyo University of Fine Arts and Music in 1971 where he studied piano, harmony, counterpoint, and trombone. After graduation, he joined the faculty of the university. Shortly thereafter, he was appointed by Seiji Ozawa to be the bass trombonist of the New Japan Philharmonic Orchestra. In 1982, Mr.Sakakibara continued his education at the University of Texas at Austin studing trombone with Donald Kanub and composition with Richard Long. After returning to Japan, he resigned from the New Japan Philharmonic to pursue a carrer in conducting and composition. The Orchestra Ensemble Kanazawa, one of only two Japanese orchestras to record for Deutsche Gramophone, asked Mr. Sakakibara to be their resident conductor in 1989. Mr. Sakakibara conducts more than 60 concerts a year and has as tremendous public following in his native country. Sakae Sakakibara died of heart failure on August 11, 2005.