Yoko NIshi

line up

• Michael Spencer (violin)
• Motoki Hirai (piano)
• Steve Rose (Double bass)
• Yoko Nishi (Koto)

• country:
  Japan
• style(s):
  Japanese Traditional
• label:
  not signed
• type:
  Band, Solist
• gender:
  female
• instrumentation:
  instrumental
• artist submitted by:
  mu:arts

Yoko Nishi, the inspirational 13-sting koto zither player from Japan, frequently appears in performances worldwide. She has made it her life's work to explore this unique musical instrument, creating her own original work, as well as collaborating with many other distinguished artists, such as Terry Riley, Alvin Lucier, Sofia Gubaidulina, Moondong, Carl Stone, Maki Ishii, Yoshihide Otomo, and others from different cultural genres, including poets and fine artists. Yoko started learning the koto at the age of four, and at the age of twelve she embarked on her new musical career by affiliating herself with the Sawai Koto School which was run and taught by the virtuoso musicians Sawai Tadao, and his wife Kazue. Since then, Yoko has sought to cultivate new sounds from this most "traditional" instrument of Japan.

In 1993 Yoko was selected as a Cultural Internship Fellow by the Japanese government, at the Agency for Cultural Affairs, and this enabled her to develop her career as a solo artist. In 1999 she released her first CD entitled "Patterns of Plants" from ALM Records, which received critical acclaim. Her work however is not limited to creating "contemporary" music; she is also enthusiastic about investigating ancient musical worlds. In 2000, for example, she collaborated in the restoration of some of the most ancient musical instruments that originated from East Asia, the hitsu and kugo, which had previously been lost from the history of musical transmission. Since 2001 Yoko has started a koto recital entitled "FACE", in order to develop new approaches to this instrument, and has performed various contemporary repertoires, including pieces by John Cage. She is also known as an inspirational musician who can compose and improvise the koto, creating her own musical world that has delighted audiences. These experiences have resulted in her acclaimed solo album "Fantasma", from the Triem-Classics, for which she collaborated with prominent classical musicians.

Yoko has, not surprisingly, been much in demand, not only in Japan, but worldwide, and has performed in, among other places, London, Berlin, and Chicago; often with her ensemble groups: "Ito (Strings)" led by Yuji Takahashi, "Monophony Consort" led by Mamoru Fujieda, and "Ensemble Origin" led by Toshi Ichiyanagi. Her latest performance outside Japan was at the World Conference for Economy, in Davos in 2008, where she was received by the audience with rapturous applause.

MOTOKI HIRAI

Pianist

PROFILE

Widely acclaimed as one of the most imaginative pianists of his generation, Motoki Hirai appears regularly in the music capitals of Far East, America and Europe. He has been broadcasted internationally on radio and television (Classic FM, BBC and NHK). Born into a highly gifted musical family, Motoki studied piano, harmony and counterpoint with his grandfather, the eminent composer Kozaburo Hirai, and violin with his grandmother. After reading philosophy and aesthetics at Keio University in Tokyo, Motoki came to London in 1996 to study at the Royal Academy of Music and later at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama .

As part of 2005 EU-Japan Year of People-to-People Exchanges, Motoki Hirai gave a solo recital on Europe Day at St. John's, Smith Square, where he included the world premiere of his own composition 'Scenes from a Native Land', written for this special event. Also Motoki has given duo-recitals in Japan and abroad with his father, celebrated cellist Takeichiro Hirai, whom Pablo Casals designated as his natural successor. Highlights of this season include performance with with Czech Virtuosi in Prague and Bruno, recitals at Tokyo Bunka Kaikan andWigmore Hall in London.

www.motokihirai.com 199




Michael Spencer

Formerly a classically trained violinist he appeared regularly with all the major symphony and chamber orchestras in London and eventually joined the London Symphony Orchestra where, during a 14 year period, he worked with artists ranging from Leonard Bernstein, Pierre Boulez and Sir Georg Solti, to Sir Paul McCartney and John Williams. His interests in world music however led him to diversify into a wide variety of different styles and he was subsequently invited by The Wigmore Hall to create an innovative programme based on violin music from around the world; Fiddle Days ran for seven years. He appeared regularly on BBC Radio and Television with his string quartet, and more recently his dance orchestra 'The New Covent Garden Dance Orchestra' led the resurgence of the increasingly popular social dance tradition. Highlights from his career include 'jamming' with Dudley Moore in Abbey Road Studios and performing for Elton John.

He currently maintains a presence at the core of the arts education movement and during his time as Head of Education at the Royal Opera House was appointed as education consultant to the Association of Japanese Symphony Orchestras. From his work with the Association he has received the patronage of Her Royal Highness the Empress Michiko. He also led the education team for the Oscar winning animation of Peter and the Wolf.
www.sound-strategies.co.uk and www.creative-arts.net 234