Fundraising Classical Concerts
Fri. April 12 at 7 PM
ARTIST BIOGRAPHIES
EIKO KANO, violin
Since she started to play the violin at age 4, Ms. Kano has won numerous awards and prizes both in Japan and Internationally. After studying in Tokyo ( Geidai) and London, Eiko moved to New York and since then has established herself as a very unique and versatile artist. Both of her innovative CDs with her own story writing and violin performances have been featured on JAL international flights. Eiko's videography of Bach's Chaconne at Kyoto Temple “Eikando” playing on Stradivarius violin awarded to her by Nippon Music Foundation with a costume by Junko Koshino has been critically acclaimed. Eiko is in high demand as a chamber musician as well as a soloist and as a concertmaster of various orchestras in both the USA and Japan. She is the concertmaster and senior artistic advisor of Pegasus: the Orchestra. Ms.Kano will be featured as a soloist at St. Thomas Church on 5th Avenue to celebrate its 200th year anniversary concert in May 2024. She has been praised as an artist with “electrifying intensity and lyrical expression” by Kyoto Newspaper and “mesmerizing interpreter” by Ongakuno-Tomo Magazine. http://english.eikonyc.com
Hitomi Honda, piano
Hitomi Honda, a New York City-based pianist, specializes in contemporary music, particularly works by "New York School composers" associated with John Cage, alongside research into Baroque, notably J.S. Bach. Her performance of Earle Brown's "Four More" at Make Music New York was lauded by music critic Anthony Tommasini in the New York Times, who praised her incisive interpretation.
Her career as a contemporary performer began in 2013 when commissioned by Akio Mokuno, an electroacoustic composer, to premiere "Mullaly Park 09/10." Since then, she's been a staple at the New York City Electroacoustic Music Festival, premiering Mokuno's compositions like "Infall" (2015), "Tanka" (2016), and "Resonance )))" (2018). Honda's dynamic interpretations and dedication to both contemporary and Baroque repertoire define her as a versatile and innovative pianist in New York's vibrant music scene. She holds a master's degree in piano performance from Brooklyn College.
Akio Mokuno, composition
Akio Mokuno is a versatile artist, blending roles as an electroacoustic composer, singer-songwriter, and noise improviser, with a significant influence in experimental music. Beginning his career in Nagoya's psychedelic/new wave scene, he relocated to New York in 1994 to join the avant-garde Electoputas. Influenced by musique concrète and electronic music, Akio innovated with samplers and an optical MIDI controller in the late '90s. His collaborations span a broad spectrum of artists, including Damo Suzuki and Nels Cline, showcasing his prowess across genres. Academically accomplished, Akio holds degrees from the City College and Brooklyn College of New York, studying under luminaries like Morton Subotnick. His work has been recognized and showcased in esteemed venues, including the New York City Electroacoustic Music Festival and the 13th Biennial Arts and Technology Symposium at Connecticut College, underlining his impact and innovation in sonic arts and performance.
Junko Ichikawa, piano
Classical pianist ICHIKAWA Junko was born in Obihiro, Hokkaido. Currently based in New York City, Junko has performed all over the world, including solo recitals at the Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, New York’s Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, the Japanese Garden in Portland, Oregon, and many other recital halls around the world. She has performed as a soloist with the Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra (Tokyo), as well as with the Rutgers Symphony Orchestra, the Wiener Residenz Orchester, and many others.
Most recently, she has been performing special invitational solo recitals aboard CUNARD’s Queen Mary 2, Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria super luxury ocean liners.
Junko is a graduate of Tokyo National University of Arts, New York University, and Mannes College of Music, and has earned her DMA at Rutgers University.
Masayo Ishigure, koto/shamisen
Masayo Ishigure began playing the koto and jiuta shamisen at the age of five in Gifu, Japan. After initial studies with Tadao and Kazue Sawai, Masayo became a special research student in 1986 at the Sawai Koto Academy of Music -The academy incorporates many influences from classical to jazz and aims to change the perception of the koto from solely as a traditional Japanese instrument to an instrument of universal expressiveness.
Ms. Ishigure received a degree in Japanese Traditional Music from Takasaki Junior Arts College with a concentration on koto and shamisen.
Ms. Ishigure moved to New York City in 1992 and has performed at Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall-Weill Recital Hall, Merkin Hall and other venues in the New York City metropolitan area. She was a guest artist with the San Diego Symphony, New Haven Symphony Orchestra, and Seattle Symphony Orchestra.
Masayo Ishigure has appeared in concerts for music festivals in Japan, Thailand, Brazil, Holland, France, Germany, Mexico, Russia, Jamaica, Hawaii south Korea and Alaska.
In 2005, Masayo Ishigure was a recording artist alongside Yitzhak Perlman, Yo-Yo Ma, and others on the Academy Award-Winning soundtrack from the movie "Memoirs of a Geisha" by John Williams.
Awarded received “2016 Consul General’s Commendation”
Nominated as "100 Japanese respected by the world" by News Week Magazine in 2007.
In 2016, nominate as "Top 5 female cultural Japanese in New York" by Prime Minister Abe.
1992-2002 Masayo has taught koto and shamisen at Wesleyan University, CT.
2010-2021 held Koto classes at Columbia University.
She gives private lessons in New York City.
Recital at Carnegie Hall to commemorate 30 years in the U.S.
Kenneth Hutchinson, Juita shamisen
Ken was born in New York City where he studied classical piano and blues guitar in his youth. In 1990 Ken moved to Japan to pursue his growing interest in Architecture and Design. A chance discovery of a shamisen in his grandmother's Tokyo home eventually led him to study with Masayo Ishigure in New York City. Since 2007 he has performed with Ms. Ishigure and the Miyabi ensemble at numerous cultural events in the U.S. and abroad, including Sydney Australia, Honolulu Hawaii, Friday Night live hosted by the Consulate General of New York,Gifu Japan and the Japanese Embassy in Washington D.C.
Satoshi Kanazawa, composition
Satoshi Kanazawa is a New York City-based composer of contemporary music. After graduating from Tokyo University of the Arts, he received many awards and grants such as the Queens Arts Fund New Work Grant, Shelley Pinz Professional Development Grant, NYFA Artists’ Fellowship with the additional title of Gregory Millard Fellow as well as Grand Prize in Lin Yao Ji International Competition, Yoshinao Nakada Prize in The 25th Sougakudo Japanese Art Song Competition, Grand Prize with Hirosaki City Mayor Award in Hirosaki Sakurano Sono Competition with the title of Hirosaki City Mayor Award and Hifumi Shimoyama Award, The 6th JFC Composers Award, and Japan Trombone Association Memorial Piece Award. He released his first debut CD, entitled "Flowing Blue" in 2009 to showcase his unique style of music. Besides his premieres of original works and numerous arrangement pieces in Japan, his award-winning piece called “Rhapsody for Trombone and Piano” was premiered in the U.S. by Charles Vernon of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. He was also invited to hold his lecture and concert of his works hosted by Université Laval in Canada. Notably, his commissioned piece for Japanese bamboo flute and cello entitled “TSUGARU” premiered at Carnegie Hall in 2019. His current concept of composition is “Locality in society”. His compositions are inspired by local cultures, myths, or current social events and he seeks if locality is necessary in our modern world and how locality affects our society.
Naoko Nakagawa, soprano
Naoko Nakagawa is a graduate of the prestigious Tokyo University of the Arts. Nakagawa's remarkable voice is well known in Japan and she has appeared in concerts throughout Japan as a soloist and a guest singer. American audiences have also received her warmly after coming to New York City in 2006.
Ms. Nakagawa started her vocal training at the age of fifteen. Her teachers include Noriko Fujiwara, Michio Tatara, Dora Ohrenstein, Jean-Ronald LaFond, Joan Krueger, Martina Arroyo, and Maestro Steven M. Crawford of Metropolitan Opera. Ms. Nakagawa made her role debut as Masha in A Feast in the Time of the Plague written by César Cui at the little OPERA THEATRE of NY in 2009 and appeared at The Hudson Guild Theatre in New York. Since then, she has appeared in many concerts in and around New York. Notably, she has appeared at the Benefit Concert for Japan in May 2011 hosted by Artists in Action for Japan as well as in June 2011 with the Concert for Japan hosted by the Consulate General of Germany and Consulate General of Japan in New York in June 2011 to raise funds for the victims of the Japanese earthquake and tsunami.
She has continued her artistic career by touring worldwide at various venues while building a foundation for the next generation of musicians through her work as a voice teacher.
ARTISTS for NOTO
Noto Peninsura in Japan Earthquake Disaster Relief Fundraiser
Hosted by
THE BRICKS NYC
Supported by
The Council of Local Authorities for
International Relations New York Office
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THE BRICKS NYC is in partnership with het Labo music & art
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