Music From Japan 50th Anniversary
Festival 2025 New York
February 21-22
Tickets on sale December 1 at https://mfjfestival2025.eventbrite.com
Victor Borge Hall, Scandinavia House
58 Park Avenue at 38th Street, NYC
Gagaku Ensemble Toki no Koe
Friday, February 21
7:00pm Lecture by Mayumi Miyata
7:30pm Concert
The first night of the festival will feature the exciting new gagaku ensemble Toki no Koe, a group dedicated to performing both classical repertoire and ambitious new works for gagaku instruments. The ensemble is directed by sho soloist Mayumi Miyata, who has premiered works by masters including Tōru Takemitsu and John Cage. The evening’s performance will include classical repertoire as well as contemporary works, including world premieres by composers Osamu Kawakami and Tetsuya Yamamoto, and a 2008 work by Sukeyasu Shiba, a pioneer in bridging the gap between classical and contemporary gagaku music. The concert will be followed by a forum with the commissioned composers and Ms. Miyata, moderated by Ralph Samuelson.
Performers: Mayumi Miyata, sho solo; Moriyuki Shimeno, ryuteki; Yoshie Kunimoto, hichiriki; Hanako Nakamura, sho; Yoshiyuki Izaki, biwa; Sakura Kido, koto.
CURRENT SOUNDS JAPAN V
Saturday, February 22
5:00pm Lecture by Miyuki Shiraishi, musicologist
5:30pm Concert
The second program will introduce composers Mariko Endo, Noel Hiyamizu and Makoto Ohata. These cutting-edge artists will each contribute two pieces—one from their body of work and the other a world premiere newly commissioned by MFJ for this occasion. The concert will be followed by a forum with the commissioned composers and Prof. Shiraishi, moderated by composer Zosha Di Castri.
Performers: Emile-Anne Gendron, violin; Christopher Gross, cello; Roberta Michel, flute; Keve Wilson, oboe; Madison Greenstone, clarinet; Nicolee Kuester, horn; Sara Schoenbeck, bassoon; Samuel Budish, percussion; Taka Kigawa, piano
