Venue	Date & Time		Price
Theatre, Sheung Wan Civic Centre	01.02.2013(Fri)	20:00	$220, $150
Xiang Hai Xuan Multi-purpose Hall, Nan Lian Garden	02.02.2013(Sat)	14:30	$220

* Meet-the-artist session after concert on 2 February (In Japanese with Cantonese translation)

About the Performer

Katou Minoru, as a guitarist and composer, is the leader of the koto ensemble "Nagi no Kai" and the koto and guitar fusion band "La Brisa".  In addition to writing and arranging music, he has been active on radio and in the recording studio, having appeared in "Minna no Uta" ("Songs for Everyone") by NHK.  As well as producing a series of guitar solos for film scores and other musical genres for Columbia Records, he was responsible for the entire oeuvre of guitar pieces for the series of "Tora-san" movies under the collective title of Otoko Wa Tsurai Yo (It's Hard Being a Man).  He has given performances overseas, including Germany, the United States and Mexico.  His discography includes Nagi no Kai CD Collections One and Two, One's Heart and Cancion.  He has also written a large number of original compositions and arrangements, as well as publications, for the koto and the guitar.

Sakata Ryozan is a Grand Master of the Toyama Stylistic School of shakuhachi.  He was trained under Kishihara Shuzan and Kawamura Taizan at Kobe University and completed the 30th NHK Japanese Music Technical Training Course.  He is a multiple winner in many competitions, including the First Prize at the 13^th Tozan-ryu Honkyoku Contest, and recipient of several awards and other honours from the Ministry of Education.  He has given public performances with Ondekoza, and appeared in the musicals of the Four Seasons Theatre Company and in another musical starring Kataoka Tsurutaro.  In addition, he has performed in concert with Ogura Kei, Minami Kosetsu, among many others.  His eclectic performing styles can be seen in his collaborations with different musicians, as well as his touring performances overseas.  Sakata has participated in studio recordings, on television and on radio.  He is currently a part-time shakuhachi instructor in the Japanese Music Department of the Toho Gakuen College of Drama and Music.

Otani Keiko received koto training under Arai Utashito, Yamaki Kozaburo and Katou Minoru.  She has participated in numerous collaborations including public performances with the New York Symphonic Ensemble in New York and Atlanta, as well as joint jazz performances with Miyama Toshiyuki and his New Herd Orchestra, duos with players of erhu, flute and creative ballet, and so forth.  She is currently the principal player of the "Nagi no Kai" ensemble group.  She has written 19 compositions and arrangements, including Prayer of Goddess of Dawn. She has released 10 recordings, including Nagi no Kai and One’s Heart.  She is the author of A Guide to Training for Koto Teachers.

Obina Kuniko graduated from the Department of Traditional Japanese Music of the Tokyo University of the Arts (Former name: Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music).  She completed the NHK Japanese Music technical training course, and passed the NHK Japanese music audition.  She has been giving recitals since 1990.  She is a member of music group AKI & KUNIKO.  Her CD recordings Ha〜Aki & Kuniko and Over the Top, have received rave reviews from music magazines and had performances in Germany, New York, Chicago and the Caribbean.  She is currently a member of the ensemble group by Miyagi Michio and a Senior Instructor of Koto Music in the Miyagi Society.

Noda Mika graduated from the Department of Traditional Japanese Music of the Tokyo University of Arts (Former name: Tokyo National University of fine Arts and Music).  She was a prize-winner in the Miyagi Society contest, and passed the NHK Japanese music audition.  In addition to solo activities, she has taken part in chamber performances as a member of "Ayane", "Koto-Za" and "La Brisa".  She is also a player of the ancient 13-string koto with the gagaku group "Reigakusha", and has built a repertoire that includes both gagaku classics and modern works written for the instruments.  As a member of "Reigakusha", she has received a Special Award in the 2002 Kenzo Nakajima Music Prize and an Award for Excellence in the Record Section at the 2002 Arts Festival.  In addition to public concerts at the National Theatre of Japan, she has also performed at overseas music festivals in the United States and Europe.

Programme

Ticketing

Tickets available from 12 December onwards at all URBTIX outlets, on Internet and by Credit Card Telephone Booking.

Disccount Scheme

Half-price tickets available for senior citizens aged 60 or above, people with disabilities and the minder, full-time students and Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) recipients (Limited tickets for full-time students and CSSA recipients available on a first-come-first-served basis).

‘Nan Lian Garden Music Series’ Series Discount

10% off for each purchase of 2 different programmes; 15% off for each purchase of 3 different programmes; 20% off for each purchase of 4 or more different programmes.

Other programmes in the ‘Nan Lian Garden Music Series’ includes Erhu Recital by Wang Guotong, Concert by Wind and Silk, Fujian Nanyin Concert and “When Petals Fall in Serenity…” Pipa Recital by Wong Chi-ching.

Group Booking Discount

10% off for each purchase of 4-9 tickets; 15% off for each purchase of 10-19 tickets; 20% off for each purchase of 20 or more tickets

Patrons can enjoy only one of the above discount schemes for each purchase.  Please inform the box office staff at the time of purchase.

Programme Length

Running time of each performance is about 1 hour 30 minutes with an intermission of 15 minutes.

Audiences are strongly advised to arrive punctually.  No latecomers will be admitted until the interval or a suitable break in the programme.

Enquiries

Internet Booking：www.urbtix.hk

Credit Card Telephone Booking：2111 5999

Programme Enquiries：2268 7321

Ticketing Enquiries：2734 9009

The presenter reserves the right to substitute artists and change the programme should unavoidable circumstances make it necessary.

Programme Notes

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