At long last, we are delighted to be able to welcome you back  in-person for the 21st episode of Four Seasons in New York: Gems of Japanese Music by the acclaimed vocalist and koto and shamisen player Yoko Reikano Kimura with special guest shakuhachi master James Nyoraku Schlefer. This concert is presented by CRS (Center for Remembering & Sharing) and Yoko Reikano Kimura and is supported by Hogaku Journal and Mar Creation, Inc.

The program video will also be available to watch on demand online from Sunday, November 28th, 8:00 pm (EST) through Thursday, December 2nd, 11:30 pm, and in-person attendees will also be able to access the video. Those who would like to purchase only online access (and not attend in person) may do so here:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/four-seasons-in-new-york-gems-of-japanese-music-vol-21-tickets-201922153597

“…Yoko Reikano Kimura, playing the shamisen and singing, is superb….” — New York Times
“…Kimura’s voice was rich and full-bodied ….” — KC METROPLIS
James Nyoraku Schlefer is “America’s Finest Shakuhachi Player.”—Concertonet.com

【Program】
Nasuno – Fire Fox – (composed by Yamada-kengyo)
Meikyo for shamisen and shakuhachi (composed by Seiho Kineya)
Koto-Uta (composed by Toshio Hosokawa)

【Performers】
Yoko Reikano Kimura, koto, shamisen
James Nyoraku Schlefer, shakuhachi (special guest)

【Tickets】
$30 (The ticket holders of this in-person concert will have access to the online streaming program.)
*The seats for in-person concert are limited, so please make reservation in advance.

【Tickets reservation】
E-mail: info@yokoreikanokimura.com
*Please include your name and the number of tickets you wish to purchase.
*Payment will be at Center for Remembering and Sharing. (Cash only)

About Four Seasons in New York – Gems of Japanese Music

New York’s music scene reflects the diverse and vibrant culture of the city. Kimura, together with CRS (Center for Remembering and Sharing), began this concert series in the fall of 2015. As a Japanese instrumentalist, she hopes to introduce the brilliance of traditional Japanese music, which is still being passed on to future generations after many centuries. Starting with the 2018-19 season, the series has featured contemporary pieces composed by living composers as well. Since the first concert, about 40 works from the classical repertoire have been introduced in the concert series. Please come and experience the sounds of koto and shamisen and enjoy the taste of the four seasons here in New York!

About past performances: https://www.yokoreikanokimura.com/projects/fourseasons/

Grand Master JAMES NYURAKU SCHLEFER is a virtuoso performer of traditional and contemporary shakuhachi music, an esteemed teacher in the Kinko school, and a ground-breaking composer. Honored by Musical America International as one of their “30 Top Professionals and Influencers,” Nyoraku Sensei’s efforts promote and sustain traditional shakuhachi music through performances, lecture/demonstrations, residencies, and concert programming. His original compositions forge new ground with contemporary works for both Japanese and Western instruments and ensembles. “James Nyoraku Schlefer occupies a special place in [New York City’s] cultural life, composing and performing music that bridges Western and Japanese styles” — THE NEW YORKER. In 2008 Schlefer co-founded Kyo-Shin-An Arts to further his enthusiasm of combining the sounds of Japanese and Western classical music traditions. Since that time KSA has commissioned dozens of new compositions, presented an annual series of concerts in New York, and partnered with classical ensembles throughout the US and in the UK.
https://www.nyoraku.com

YOKO REIKANO KIMURA is a distinguished virtuoso of Japanese koto, shamisen performer and singer in both traditional and contemporary music. Kimura has concertized in about 20 countries around the world based in New York and Japan. Following her studies at the Tokyo University of the Arts, she studied at Institute of Traditional Japanese Music, an affiliate of Senzoku Gakuen College of Music in Japan. Kimura was awarded a scholarship from the Agency of Cultural Affairs of Japan. Her teachers include Kono Kameyama, Akiko Nishigata and Senko Yamabiko, a Living National Treasure. Awards include the First prize at the prestigious 10th Kenjun Memorial National Koto Competition and the First prize at the 4th Great Wall International Music Competition. Kimura performed at the Kabuki-za in Tokyo, accompanying Danjuro Ichikawa XII. Her performances have been broadcasted on NHK-FM’s Hogaku no Hitotoki, NPR’s Performance Today and WKCR. As a koto soloist, Kimura has performed Daron Hagen’s Koto Concerto: Genji with the Wintergreen Music Festival Orchestra conducted by Mei-Ann Chen and several string quartets. As a shamisen soloist, she performed Kin’ichi Nakanoshima’s Shamisen Concerto at the National Olympic Memorial Youth Center.

Her performances have been featured at many opera and theater works, such as Michi Wiancko’s Murasaki’s Moon at Metropolitan Museum, Piestro Mascagni’s Iris by American Symphony Orchestra, Basil Twist’s Dogugaeshi, Yasuko Yokoshi’s Bell and many others.

Kimura is a founder of Duo YUMENO, with cellist Hikaru Tamaki. The duo received the Kyoto Aoyama Barock Saal Award in 2015, and featured at Chamber Music America’s 2016 National Conference, and performed at the John F. Kennedy Center in 2017. In 2019, the duo had its ten-year anniversary recital at Carnegie Hall.
Website: yokoreikanokimura.com | duoyumeno.com