Artists from Japan Quake Areas Joining to 4th Annual Concert
The fourth annual Circle Wind Memorial Concert, commemorating the tenth anniversary of the 9.11 tragedy and the recent 3.11 earthquake and tsunami that devastated northeastern Japan, will be held at the New York Society for Ethical Culture Concert Hall, 2 West 64th Street at Central Park West, on Saturday, September 10th, 2011 at 7.00pm. Doors open at 6.30pm. Tickets are $10.
The first half of the concert will feature leading Japanese artists, including J-Pop star Kiyotaka (from Sendai, now living in New York), who has sold over a half million albums in Japan; leading female pop singer-song writer hinaco (from Aizu-Wakamatsu, Fukushima), whose "Nakigao Smile" is the theme song for the award-winning Nippon TV serial drama "Mother"; Miki Baby (from Minami-Sanrikucho, Miyagi), who has popularized Jamaican reggae throughout Japan; and Kayo Hiraki (from Chiba), an acclaimed jazz pianist who has sold out shows at the Blue Note.
Japan Choral Harmony (JCH), a choral group led by Masaki (Mike) Shirota, a Circle Wind founder originally from Sendai and Ricako Asanuma, a pianist originally from Iwate, will also appear during the first half of the concert. JCH will perform "Believing Tomorrow", an inspirational song that has come to symbolize hope for tsunami victims and their families, after the chorus group of Hachiken Middle School in Sendai had sung the song to encourage the people being sheltered in the school gymnasium.
JCH recently performed at Carnegie Hall with the HAGI Choir from Sendai, Japan.
The second half of the concert will feature Gregory Singer's Manhattan Symphonie, a New York symphony orchestra led by maestro Gregory Singer, performing Smetana's "Moldau" and Sibelius's "Finlandia". The orchestra is comprised of young virtuoso musicians eager to make their mark as well as seasoned veterans of the three Lincoln Center orchestras. Maestro Singer chose Moldau and Finlandia for this year's Circle Wind because each is a symphonic expression of deep love for one's homeland. Finlandia will comprise the concert finale, and will be played with members from JCH and Men's Glee Club of New York.
The Circle Wind Memorial Concert was originally conceived to commemorate those who lost their lives on 9.11, including victims from over 90 countries and 24 victims from Japan. The event has attracted leading artists, and is regularly attended by a number of victims' family members. In view of the devastation caused by the recent earthquake and tsunami, the concert's role has been expanded to include commemoration of 3.11 victims.
The concert MC is Ms. Nozomi Terao, founder of Happy Doll, a New York-based nonprofit organization whose recent efforts have focused on Japanese tsunami relief.
"Circle Wind is a concert where we can commemorate 9.11 and 3.11 as we experience beautiful, healing music," said Mike Shirota. "We're especially pleased with the quality of this year's program, as many Circle Wind artists are major stars in Japan. The fact that they come from the stricken area makes their appearances all the more meaningful."
Contact:
Mike Shirota
(973)470-0010, Office
(201)264-5825, Shirota
mike.s@mushroomwisdom.com |
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