Koto concert featuring debut performance, May 6
Cultural News, April 2007
Koto player Patricia Awaya (left) and her mother Mme. Yoko Awaya will perform together for Patricia’s natori presentation on May 6 (Photo courtesy of Awaya-kai)
The 16th biennial Awaya-Kai Koto Concert will be held on Sunday, May 6 at 2:00 p.m. in Marsee Auditorium on the campus of El Camino College.
The program promises to be one enriched in style and format and invigorated by the versatility of the instrumental, vocal and dance talents of guest artists Jack Ho on taiko and Chinese Er-Fu, Jean Ho on Chinese pipa, Masakazu Yoshizawa on shakuhachi, concert pianist, Michele Tawada and Mme. Hidesomi Bando in dance.
Richard Momma will direct the Choral Arts South Bay in a medley of songs, and vocal students under the direction of Susan Wong will perform selections from “Hansel and Gretel” and “Don Giovanni.”
Bill Crowley, fluent in Japanese, will reprise his role as master of ceremonies and perform rakugo (traditional Japanese comedic storytelling).
The debut performance featured at the16th Awaya-Kai Koto Concert is a special natori presentation by Patricia Aiko Awaya, daughter of Mme. Yoko Awaya and her husband, James Awaya.
This memorable and momentous occasion will feature Patricia performing Tadao Sawai’s “Raden” (the iridescence and changing colors in the mother of pearl) accompanied by her mother, Mme. Awaya.
The combination of an exciting and immensely popular composition performed by mother and daughter promises to be an exceptional highlight to an already talented and distinguished program and elaborate stage production.
Ms. Patricia Awaya was born in Torrance, California. She began playing the koto when she was 5 years old, studying with Mme. Kazue Kudo for 12 years, then continuing her koto instruction under her mother, Yoko Awaya.
Patricia has performed regularly with the Koto String Society and in Awaya-Kai Koto concerts and benefits. She has been deeply involved in promoting Japanese culture and understanding through her numerous koto performances and involvement in cultural affairs.
Patricia graduated from University of California, Irvine and became a Certified Public Accountant. She presently is the Corporate Finance Manager at Sony Pictures Entertainment. She received her teaching degree from the Michio Miyagi School of Koto in Tokyo this spring.
The El Camino College is located at 16007 Crenshaw Blvd., Torrance. General admission is $20. Discount tickets are $10 for children under 12 and seniors 65 and older. For tickets and information, call (310) 329-5965 or email awayajs@msn.com.