[Shaku] Nakamura at the Kennedy Center

"Arts of Japan Celebrations"
Shakuhachi Virtuoso, Akikazu Nakamura, performs at the Kennedy Center in
Washington DC along with his dymanic group, Kokoo and gives a master class
on the traditional Japanese Breathing Method, which enables you to breath in
instantly without moving your body!

Kennedy Center Link:
http://www.kennedy-center.org/programs/festivals/artsofjapan/
The Kennedy Center commemorates the beauty of the cherry blossoms with a
festival of performances celebrating the Center's long-time relationship
with Japan. Experience both traditional and contemporary Japanese music,
dance, and theater with a shakuhachi flute performance, taiko drumming,
imaginative puppet theater, and more.

Concert
Akikazu Nakamura & Kokoo-shakuhachi and koto

March 26, 2006 Sun. 2pm

Kennedy Center

Terrace Theater

2700 F St. NW Washington, DC 20566

Admission $20

Call 202-467-4600

MasterClass

Akikazu Nakamura Master Class on the traditional Japanese breathing method

March 27, 2006 Mon. 7pm

Kennedy Center

Rehearsal Room 7 (Opera House Stage Door to enter)

2700 F St. NW Washington, DC 20566

Admission $10

202-467-4600

Shakuhachi master Akikazu Nakamura combines discussion and demonstration in
an interactive and informative master class on the traditional Japanese
breathing method. The unique method enables you to breathe in instantly
without moving your body. Open to singers, any instrumentalists and those
who have an interest in the Japanese culture.

Kokoo
Shakuhachi virtuoso Akikazu Nakamura formed the group in 1995. Although
their sound is diverse, they exclusively play the Japanese traditional
instruments shakuhachi (bamboo flute) and koto (horizontal harp). By
incorporating extended techniques as well as elements of rock, jazz
improvisation, Western classical music, and the experimental avant garde,
Kokoo transcends traditional Japanese music. Based in Tokyo, Kokoo has
visited many countries; "Queen Elizabeth Hall (London)," "Kuhmo Chamber
Music Festival (Finland)," "The Festival of Japan in New Zealand,"
"Kita-Kyushu International Music Festival," "Japan Society (New York),"
"Eastman School of Music," "Museum of Fine Arts Boston," "The Philadelphia
Museum of Art," etc. They already released three CDs and forth CD album will
be released from JVC this year.
http://www.kokoo.com

AKIKAZU NAKAMURA: composer, arranger, shakuhachi

Nakamura studied under Katsuya Yokoyama and several masters of the komuso
shakuhachi tradition. A graduate of the NHK School of Traditional Music,
Nakamura went on to study composition and jazz theory at Berklee College of
Music, graduating summa cum laude. He was then awarded a scholarship to
pursue a master's degree in composition and third-stream music at the New
England Conservatory.

He has performed in more than 30 countries worldwide under the sponsorship
of the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Japan Foundation, among
others. While still grounding his roots in the classical tradition handed
down by komuso monks, Nakamura has delved into different musical genres
including rock, jazz, and contemporary music.

Nakamura is one of the first shakuhachi players to make use of the circular
breathing technique which enables him to breathe in as he plays the
instrument, thus ensuring a continuous sound. Nakamura has received much
recognition for his performances and recordings: he was awarded the 19th
Matsuo Performing Arts Prize; he received the Columbia Golden Disc Prize for
his CD entitled The World of Zen Music: Saji, and was twice honored with the
Prize for Excellence at the Arts Festival sponsored by the Agency for
Cultural Affairs - in 1999 (for the Saji recording) and in 2005 for his most
recent CD, The World of Zen Music: Sanya. Also active as a composer and
arranger, Nakamura has been commissioned by NHK, WDR (Germany), the Jean
Sibelius String Quartet (Finland), and the Ravel String Quartet (France),
among others. He was awarded the Encouragement Prize by the Agency for
Cultural Affairs for his work as a composer. A member of the Japan Society
of Contemporary Music, Nakamura currently teaches at the Toho Gakuen College
of Drama and Music.

_____________________________________________

List un/subscription information is at:
 http://communication.ucsd.edu/shaku/listsub.html
Received on Mon Mar 13 08:29 PST 2006