TEACHERS:
KEISUKE ZENYŌJI
Keisuke Zenyōji started shakuhachi at the early age of 6, with his father, a direct recipient of the art of the great Jin Nyodo. Later he graduate from Tokyo National University of the Arts (Tokyo Geidai) as well as the Master Program at the same university. During his time as a student he studied with Yamaguchi Gorō (Living National Treasure). In 2000 he published the shakuhachi beginner’s learner manual Hajimete no Shakuhachi [First Encounter with the Shakuhachi], Tokyo: Ongaku no Tomosha.
He was awarded the Grand Prize of the Agency for Cultural Affairs National Art Festival for his 2009 recital. Presently he is actively teaching in the Kantō area. His honkyoku was broadcast on the NHK Hogaku radio show, unusual accomplishments for such a young player in conservative Japan.
Introducing KEISUKE ZENYŌJI – teaching Kinpū-ryū Nezasa-ha repertoire and Kinko-ryū sankyoku at Barcelona 2016
More information at: www.zenyoji.jp
KAORU KAKIZAKAI
Kaoru Kakizakai is one of the main disciples of Katsuya Yokoyama, currently Lecturer at the Tokyo College of Music and full time KSK Instructor, (Kokusan Shakuhachi Kenshukan).
Starting his shakuhachi studies in 1982 and has appeared in several of the audio and video projects of Yokoyama sensei as well as taught and performed in most of the Kokusai Shakuhachi Kenshukan events since 1994. He is a regular instructor and player for the Rocky Shakuhachi Camp in Colorado, USA as well as the Australian Shakuhachi Festival (since its first edition in 1999).
Kakizakai sensei has performed the works of Toru Takemitsu regularly around the world since the year 2000 (last time in Cologne in 2015) and has tour Europe in several occasions both teaching and performing classical/traditional Japanese music and contemporary music. In 2002 and 2009 he released two CDs dedicated to Koten Honkyoku Music.
Introducing KAORU KAKIZAKAI – teaching honkyoku of the Kokusai Shakuhachi Kenshukan, the lineage of Yokoyama Katsuya at Barcelona 2016
More information at: www.kakizakai.com
GUNNAR JINMEI LINDER
Gunnar Jinmei Linder began to study the shakuhachi at his arrival to Japan in 1985 under the living national treasure Yamaguchi Gorō (1933–99) head of the Chikumeisha guild of Kinko-ryū Shakuhachi.
He received his MA degree as shakuhachi soloist in 1997 at the Tokyo National University of the Arts and received his traditional license, shihan , and the name Jinmei (儘盟) from Yamaguchi sensei in 1998.
From 1997 to 2005 Gunnar was professionally active as performer and teacher of shakuhachi in Japan with frequent activities both in Europe and the US.
He moved back to his native Sweden in 2005 where is actively performing and teaching shakuhachi and working as Associate Professor in Japanese Studies at the Department of Oriental Languages of the Stockholm University conducting research in the traditional genres of Japanese music and a senior lecturer of shakuhachi at the Royal College of Music in Stockholm.
He has recorded several CDs, one instructional video/DVD and is author of the book Notes on Kinko-ryū Shakuhachi Honkyoku — Performance Techniques: Analysis, Classification, Explanation, as well as his PhD dissertation Deconstructing Tradition in Japanese Music: A Study of Shakuhachi, Historical Authenticity and Transmission of Tradition.
Introducing GUNNAR JINMEI LINDER – teaching Chikumeisha Kinko-ryu honkyoku at Barcelona 2016
More information at: nipponicom.com/shakuhachi
KIKU DAY
Kiku Day is a jinashi shakuhachi player from Denmark with Japanese and American background. She gave up her studies in classical Western music on flute to study honkyoku (classic solo repertoire of the komusō monks of the Fuke sect of Zen Buddhism) with Okuda Atsuya in Japan for 11 years.
Day has since her return to Europe dedicated her life to the potential use of jinashi shakuhachi today. The jinashi shakuhachi is the older type of shakuhachi, only consisting of the raw untreated bamboo. Several composers from different parts of the world have written for her, among others: Takahashi Yūji, Roxanna Panufnik, Frank Denyer, Vytautas Germanavicius and Yumi Hara Cawkwell. She has performed with performers such as Fred Frith, Joanna MacGregor, Mats Gustafsson and Joëlle Léandre, and as a soloist with Odense Symphony Orchestra and with the Nonsuch Choir.
Day has a Phd. in ethnomusicology from SOAS, University of London and has worked as an assistant professor at Aarhus University, Denmark. She is a founding member of the European Shakuhachi Society for which she now serves as chairperson.
Introducing KIKU DAY – teaching Zensabo honkyoku, min’yo and shakuhachi & meditation at Barcelona 2016
More information at: www.kikuday.com
JIM FRANKLIN
Dr Jim Franklin initially studied composition and musicology in Australia, Germany and Holland. During his studies he encountered the shakuhachi, and was fascinated by it. After learning the instrument in Australia with Dr Riley Lee and in Japan with Furuya Teruo and Yokoyama Katsuya, he received the title shihan (“master”) in 1996 from Yokoyama-sensei, and was thus officially licensed to teach and perform shakuhachi.
As a composer, Franklin is active in the areas of contemporary and electroacoustic music. He composes for shakuhachi solo and in combination with other instruments, and frequently performs projects with shakuhachi and live electronics, sometimes in combination with dance and video art. The interface between shakuhachi and electronics, and shakuhachi and visual media, is a key area of interest. In the area of solo shakuhachi, Franklin has specialized in the honkyoku of the school of Yokoyama Katsuya (Kokusai Shakuhachi Kenshukan) and in modern music.
Since 2004 Franklin has lived in Germany. From 2006 to 2009 he was founding Chairperson of the European Shakuhachi Society. His current projects include composing and recording the extended work “Songs from the Lake”, for shakuhachi, theremin and live electronics, and contribution to the development of the European branch of Kokusai Shakuhachi Kenshukan.
Introducing JIM FRANKLIN – teaching Chikuho-ryu honkyoku and shakuhachi with live electronics at Barcelona 2016
More information: www.bambooheart.com
VÉRONIQUE PIRON
Véronique Piron, a French flautist based in West of France (Brittany), is a shakuhachi master-performer in the style transmitted by Yokoyama Katsuya (KSK) who awarded her a shihan-licence in 2002 while recipient of a Lavoisier research grant from the French government for studying in Japan.
She participated in the creation of the ESS and developed the teaching of the shakuhachi primarily in the style of the KSK in Brittany, Paris and Brussels. As a licensed conservatoire teacher for traditional music she is also introducing Japanese music in the French conservatoire system and higher education.
From tradition to creation, Véronique Piron is widely produced in a solo program, in a duo with the koto/shamisen player Fumie Hihara, in an intercultural new music program with pianist Lydia Domancich (CD Sillage (Wake) 2015), meets with composers for new music, and meets with other musical cultures (celtic fusion with Alan Stivell 2015, indian bansuri with Henri Tournier 2015, etc).
Introducing VÉRONIQUE PIRON – teaching shinkyoku and min’yo shakuhachi at Barcelona 2016
More information at: www.veroniquepiron.com
JEAN-FRANÇOIS SUIZAN LAGROST
French-born flutist Suizan Lagrost is professor of art education at the Conservatories of Le Kremlin-Bicêtre and Asnières near Paris. As a versatile musician, he excels in both the Western and Japanese musics. After a traditional curriculum of concert flute in Mulhouse and Paris, then a DEA of Music of the 20th century at the University of Paris-Sorbonne, he began the shakuhachi in 2000 and obtained in 2014 the title of dai-shihan (grand master) from Tozan school.
The diversity of his expertise conducts him to appear in a variety of backgrounds : flute & piano recitals and masterclasses in Taiwan, as a soloist with the Musique de la Garde républicaine and the best French flute choirs, as well as shakuhachi concerts and festivals in Europe (Barcelona, Prague, Istanbul, Fribourg, Poitiers…) He published in 2013 a Japanese chamber music CD entitled Kyoku with the koto player Mieko Miyazaki.
As a Senior Advisor of the European Shakuhachi Society, he has founded and administered since 2011 the world main forum of shakuhachi (www.shakuhachiforum.eu).
Introducing SUIZAN LAGROST – teaching Tozan-ryu honkyoku at Barcelona 2016
More information: www.flute-shakuhachi.com
MICHAEL SOUMEI COXALL
Michael Soumei Coxall studied shakuhachi in Japan for many years under the legendary Kinko-ryu master and Living Cultural Treasure, the late Yamaguchi Goro, and still continues his studies with Mizuno Komei on frequent visits to Japan. He was awarded his shakuhachi ‘Master’s Licence’ in 2007 and the professional name ‘Soumei’.
Michael taught full-time at SOAS, University of London from 1986 to 2009 and teaches Chikumeisha honkyoku, sankyoku ensemble and shinkyoku music. He has performed widely in the UK and Europe as well as in Japan including at The National Theatre in Tokyo. He is also the founder member of the ‘London Hogaku Ensemble’ and the ‘Hibiki Ensemble’ and is a member of the Chikumeisha-kai. He was also co-organiser of the ESS Summer Schools in London in 2006, 2007 and 2011.
Introducing MICHAEL SOUMEI COXALL – teaching Chikumeisha Kinko-ryū sankyoku at Barcelona 2016
More information at: soumeishakuhachi.wordpress.com
HORACIO CURTI
Horacio Curti encountered the shakuhachi for the first time on the Indian Himalayas. Fascinated by its sound, decided to go to Japan where he studied honkyoku in the line of the Kokusai Shakuhachi Kenshukan under Kakizakai Kaoru sensei. There he received his shakuhachi shihan (Shakuhachi master degree) from Yokoyama Katsuya sensei in 2004.
Besides his work with the koten honkyoku, he works in “western classical contemporary music”, “free improvised music” and different projects related to poetry and theatre in solo or with other musicians and dancers.
He has performed and taught thorough Europe, in Japan and in both Norht and South America.
He has a bachelor degree on Ethnomusicology, specializing in Japanese music practices and teaches at Escola Superior de Música de Catalunya and SAE Barcelona researching on Japanese Music related topics.
Curti´s first solo album Ichi was published by Agharta Music in 2009. He later published the Book-CD Contes Zen. Petites històries per despertar (both in Spanish and Catalan) a compilation of Zen stories accompanied by a disc with Marta Millà narrating some of the stories with music created and performed by Horacio Curti. In 2015 was published his last solo album Home is Now.
Introducing HORACIO CURTI – teaching honkyoku of the Kokusai Shakuhachi Kenshukan and shakuhachi & improvisation at Barcelona 2016
More information at: www.shakuhachi.es
DAVID HUGHES
David Hughes is a min’yō expert and taught music at SOAS (The School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London) from 1987-2008. He is now a Research Associate at SOAS and at Durham University.
In 2011 he received the annual Japan Society Award for “outstanding contributions to Anglo-Japanese relations and understanding” for his activities in bringing traditional Japanese music to a wide public. He founded the London Okinawa Sanshinkai and the SOAS Min’yō Group, the major groups performing and teaching traditional Japanese folk music in the UK.
His major publications include the books Traditional Folk Song in Modern Japan (2008) and the co-edited Ashgate Research Companion to Japanese Music (2008). David has lived for over ten years in Japan, his main research area, but has also written about aspects of music in Java, Thailand and Korea, as well as about musical grammars and oral mnemonics.
Introducing DAVID HUGHES – teaching min’yō at Barcelona 2016
MIEKO MIYAZAKI
Born in Tokyo, Japan, Mieko Miyazaki began her study of the koto, as well as the shamisen, under master musicians Tomizo Huruya and Sachiko Tamura. Her early training earned her admission to Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music, during which she received a prestigious invitation to perform as the lead ensemble performer for the Emperor and Empress of Japan at the Imperial Palace. The year following her graduation from university in 1992, she won the highest awards at musical auditions organized by the NHK-FM national radio station. A versatile performer of both classical and modern styles, she has given many performances both in Japan and abroad, and has represented Japan at worldwide international cultural events sponsored by the Japan Foundation.
In 2005 she moved to France to explore new possibilities for the koto. In Europe, she has given solo concerts throughout Europe and even in locations such as Turkey and the Cairo. She continues to premiere music by leading composers written specially for the koto.
Today she remains busily involved in performing with artists across many genres, appearing on radio programs, and lecturing on Asian music.
More information at: www.miekomiyazaki.com
Introducing MIEKO MIYAZAKI & KEIKO KITAMURA – performing koto and shamisen for sankyoku and other musical forms at Barcelona 2016
More information at: www.miekomiyazaki.com
More information at: www.keikokitamura.com
KEIKO KITAMURA
Keiko Kitamura was born in Fukuyama, Hiroshima prefecture, an area known for high quality Japanese traditional instruments and instrumentalists. Her early years were spent studying koto (Japanese zither), shamisen (three-stringed Japanese lute) and vocals under the tutelage of her aunt Kyoko Kitamura, an Ikuta School grand master of the famous Miyagi association.
She is now based in the UK and has worked extensively with a variety of traditional Japanese and contemporary Western musicians. Highlight performances to date include the London Olympics opening ceremony, BT River Of Music, Glastonbury Festival, Ronnie Scotts and Kings Place, as well as performing for BBC Radio 3. She was an award winner for her koto composition at the Miyagi Michio Memorial Contest 2014 in Japan.
More information at: www.keikokitamura.com
JOSE VARGAS
José Vargas has been a professional guitarist and musician since 1982 and was introduced to the Shakuhachi in 2004 through Antonio Olías and Kodama Chikuza. He also studied with the Chikumeisha teacher, Tanaka Komei and with Okuda Atsuya on frequent visits to Japan.
Vargas also became interested in jinashi Shakuhachi (hotchiku) making and took lessons in Japan from John Kaizan Neptune and Kodama Chikuza. Subsequently he acted as an assistant to Kodama Chikuza in the 2010 Madrid Jinashi Shakuhachi Making Workshop as well as at the ESS Summer School at SOAS, London, in 2011.
Introducing JOSÉ SEIZAN VARGAS – teaching jinashi shakuhachi making and repairing at Barcelona 2016
More information at: www.shakuhachi-jinashi.com
VIKA KLEIMAN
Vika Kleiman is an improvisational dancer, teacher of Yoga, Body Awareness and Psychologist.
She is full teacher for Body Awareness, movement and dance for musicians at the “Escola Superior de Música de Catalunya” (ESMUC).
Her interest on different aspects of the body brought her to different places of the world where she has nurtured from diverse movement techniques. In places such as Argentina, Japan, USA, Portugal, Thailand, India and Spain; She has studied Improvisation and creation, Feldenkrais, Authentic movement, Senso-percepción, Thai Massage, Contact improvisation, Butoh and body Weather. She was educated on different styles of Yoga: Ashtanga, Iyengar, Anusara, Nata yoga, Dinamic Yoga, and other styles of Hatha yoga in Argentina, USA, India and Japan.
She has danced and taught in several places in North and South America and Europe.
Living in Barcelona, she teaches, researches, dances and writes on different aspects of the body and develops a practice that is constantly changing.
Introducing VIKA KLEIMAN – teaching body awareness & the body in practice in relation to shakuhachi at Barcelona 2016
More information: vikakleiman.blogspot.com
RAMON HUMET
The music of Ramon Humet (Barcelona, 1968) has received widespread acceptance from audiences and critics thanks to his relentless search for a highly refined personal language and the balance between form and expression. After studying composition with the composer Josep Soler, he met the British composer Jonathan Harvey, an encounter that deeply marked his creative path.
In 2007 he was awarded the Olivier Messiaen International Composition Prize, which brought the commission —on the initiative of conductor Kent Nagano— of the orchestral composition Scenes of Wind for the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, premiered in 2008. In 2014 he has been guest composer at Palau de la Música Catalana.
Often inspired by Japanese traditional music for shakuhachi, some of his most relevant works for chamber music have been released on a specially designed compact disc recorded by London Sinfonietta and conducted by Nicholas Collon. This CD, produced by Neu Records label, has been recorded with high definition sound and 5.1 Surround system, and has been reviewed by Gramophone Magazine as a ‘fascinating project’.
Ramon Humet has taught composition at the Liceu Conservatory since 2009 and has a wide repertoire of vocal, instrumental, electroacoustic and stage music, with particular attention paid to orchestral production.
Introducing RAMON HUMET – teaching composing for contemporary shakuhachi and introduction to shakuhachi at Barcelona 2016
More information at: www.ramonhumet.com
Organization Barcelona 2016
General Coordination: Horacio Curti
Logistics and production: Stella Maris “Hawwa” Morales
Communication, website and videos: Thorsten Knaub