Mr. Paul Yutaka Tobe is a trumpet soloist and educator. Born in Seattle, Washington, Paul was inspired by the trumpet sounds of Harry James. Paul began playing the trumpet when he was in junior high. He graduated from Musashino Academia Musicae with bachelors and masters degrees.

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In 1961, Paul performed at the 30th Yomiuri concert. He won the second award at the 31st Japan national music competition. He played as the principal trumpeter in the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra, Japan Philharmonic Orchestra, and New Japan Philharmonic Orchestra from 1961 to 1978.

 

Paul was then awarded a scholarship to study at the Tanglewood Music Festival. He performed with the Tanglewood Music Center Orchestra in 1970. In 1973, he became the first trumpeter to hold a trumpet recital in Japan. 

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Paul received a government scholarship from the Japanese cultural agency to study trumpet in the United States and Europe from 1975 to 1976. In 1980, he performed at the Japanese cultural agency music festival. In 1982, he was invited to perform as a soloist in Shanghai.

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In 1987, Paul performed at the Tanglewood Music Festival. He served as a coach of the Empire Brass Quintet from 1988 to 1992 and performed at the Harkness Park Music Festival with the Empire Brass Quintet in 1989 and 1991. 

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Paul hosted annual GALA concerts and Freedom concerts with various musicians, including Mr. Scott Hartman (trombone) and Mr. Eric Ruske (French horn), for more than two decades.

 

In 1998, Paul was invited to perform for Mr. Adolph Herseth's Chicago Symphony principal trumpeter 50th anniversary concert in Chicago. Paul performed a trumpet recital in 1992 and organ concert in 2001 at Hong Kong culture center.

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Paul has published several music books, an autobiography, and nine CDs.  He is professor emeritus at Musashino Academia Musicae, and performs domestically and internationally with his wife, who is a pianist, and sometimes with their children. He is a member of Tokyo Shalom Chapel. 

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