Concerts and commissions in Tokyo!

I'm incredibly pleased to announce that after about 8 months of living in Japan, I am now starting to create a musical life here! By that I mean, I have managed to make some space in my brain to compose once again (learning Japanese has been taking up a lot of the space!) and I have concerts on the horizon:

Commission for Shakuhachi and Biwa Duo: I have been commissioned by Kumiko Shuto (Biwa) and Kifu Mitsuhashi (shakuhachi) to collaborate on a new piece for them to perform in a lecture concert in the Czech Republic whilst they tour Toru Takemitsu's "November Steps" in June, 2016. A fantastic opportunity and a huge learning curve, for which I am incredibly grateful.  The piece is currently in progress; it is in 3 movements and shall be titled "Blood, Bile and Breath". More information to come soon!

"Trohmos" to be performed by soprano Akane Matsudaira: My piece "Trohmos" for soprano, percussion and fixed electronics shall be performed by Akane Matsudaira in August, 2016. Akane-san has curated a concert of soprano and electronics works along with Sumihisa Arima (electronics). She is a fascinating performer and I am very excited to see her take on my piece!

Concert with Kumiko Shuto: I shall also have the opportunity to perform with Kumiko-san in concert in November, 2016. Kumiko-san is also an accomplished pianist and has curated a concert of biwa works and piano works. In the first half of the concert, we shall perform a new piece for flute and biwa and in the second half we shall perform my piece 'Kagi' for flute/piccolo and biwa. This will be "Kagi"'s premier; perhaps quite fitting as the piece is inspired by the work of the Japanese author, Junichiro Tanizaki.

Participation in Senju Dajare Community Music Group: In February, I had the good fortune to meet Makoto Nomura and be invited to take part in his Senju Dajare Community Music band - a group of professional and non-professional musicians based in Tokyo who regularly give concerts that engage with local and international communities. I took part in their concert in February which presented the work they had recently done in Thailand, creating an opera with children, and hope to be involved in future projects.