debut Archives - Good News!

Meet the Creator of Kooli Randall Law

Austin Tang — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 17:29:10 +0000

Listen to “Meet the Creator of Kooli Randall Law” on Spreaker.

Randall Law

Is a creator in the truest sense of the word—someone who doesn’t just imagine what could be, but builds it for the people who need it most.

Born and raised in Wilmington, Delaware, Randall’s journey blends creativity, purpose, and an unshakable commitment to legacy. He is the creator of the Kool World mascot, Kooli a character that has grown into a movement rooted in inclusion, confidence, and community pride.

Before Kooli ever stepped into the world, Randall’s creative path stretched across national platforms. His work includes appearances in national commercials and campaigns connected to Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign, DrugFreeWorld.org, and multiple GOOD Magazine projects. Along the way, his impact and leadership earned him recognition such as the 2025 Excellence in Public Service Award, 2024 MILLSUMMIT Impact Award, 2023 DBT 40 Under 40, and the 2022 400 Years of African American History Commission Award. He is also a proud graduate of the prestigious James H. Gilliam Fellows Program through the Wilmington Urban League.

Today, Randall Law continues to lead with intention as a father, husband, entrepreneur, and sought-after motivational speaker. Through K-12 schools, special events, and community programs, he challenges young people including adults to dream bigger, think differently, and believe out loud.

His guiding motto says it all:

“Let’s make the world KOOL again.”

The Birth of Kooli: From Idea to Impact

The idea for Kooli didn’t start as a mascot, it started as a question.

While building his apparel brand Kool Kolored Kid Generation, Randall asked himself: What am I really trying to do?

The answer was simple, yet powerful: change the world.

In 2022, inspired by iconic character-driven brands and symbols that unite people across cultures, Randall began sketching a character. The early concept was influenced by classic cartoons like Bart Simpson, but the vision quickly evolved into something bigger—something global.

During a late-night brainstorming session, with music playing from one of his favorite artists, J. Cole, Randall heard the lyric “Cole World” from the song Who Dat. In that moment, it sounded like “Cool World.” That spark changed everything.

“Cool World” became Kool World—a name that aligned perfectly with Kool Kolored Kid Generation. Randall removed the head from the original sketch and replaced it with the Earth, symbolizing unity, diversity, and shared responsibility. He dressed the character in KKKG apparel, and for the first time, Kooli had an identity.

But the mission didn’t fully reveal itself until Randall visited Nemours Children’s Health after a back-to-school initiative. Inside the hospital, he noticed children who rarely, if ever, got the chance to leave. He walked away asking a new question:

How can I bring the joy, inspiration, and community impact from outside the walls—inside?

That moment turned courage into action. Randall pitched the idea of a purpose-driven mascot to Nemours—one designed to engage hospitals, schools, and community spaces while inspiring kids and families to believe in their own power to create change.

kooli is high fived as he enters.

Kooli Steps Into the World

On August 10, 2024, Kooli made his official debut at the 100 Pairs to Give x3 event at William Penn High School—standing tall in front of 400+ attendees, students from four school districts, families, and community leaders. Kooli was welcomed alongside other beloved mascots, marking the beginning of something historic.

Just months later, in December 2024, KKKG partnered with Main Event, Londyn’s Corner, and Ambitious Pathways to launch Kooli’s Corner Christmas Giveaway, serving 100 foster children and their families with unlimited games, food, gifts, and unforgettable memories.

In just one year, Kooli has appeared at 37 events and engaged more than 18,092 individuals—and the journey is only getting started.

Randall’s story and Kooli’s stand as proof that when creativity meets courage, and purpose meets action, joy can become a legacy that touches generations.

#RandallLaw #Kooli #KoolGeneration #KoolWorld

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YOU and GUEST are CORDIALLY INVITED TO A SPECIAL RELEASE PARTY IN SAN FRANCISCO

Austin Tang — Wed, 04 Sep 2024 17:16:38 +0000

YOU AND A GUEST ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO

A SPECIAL LAUNCH FOR

MIIST’s DEBUT ALBUM

“THE SONGS FROM THE LIVING ROOM”

With Special Superstar Guest and Producer, Songwriter and Drummer Extraordinare

NARADA MICHAEL WALDEN

A special introduction with Legendary journalist and author

Ben Fong-Torres

followed by a short performance by MIIST featuring Narada Michael Walden

Thursday, September 12

6:30pm

Gefen Gallery

315 Grant Ave, San Francisco, CA 94108

MIIST’s first single, “Move Your Body Slowly,” became the first by a native Chinese artist in history to have a Billboard Top 30 Pop hit while reaching the #1 Indie spot on the Billboard AC radio chart. More recently,

“It’s Too Late to Love You,” a ballad duet between Miist and Walden, which appears on the album, was released as a single and debuted as the #1 Most Added track and #39 on the Mediabase AC Chart.

WE would love to have you join us …

RSVP:

Michael Jensen

mj@jensencom.com

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Katya Grineva performs at our Times Square Peace Day 2019

Austin Tang — Fri, 14 Feb 2020 19:55:09 +0000

#katya #grineva #champagne #chocolate #valentines #chopin #concert #february #tarry #music #hall #event #music #marina #varriano #debut #cellist #byron #dickwall #musician #carnegie #westchester #times #square #peace #day

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Chopin, Champagne & Chocolate for Valentine’s Day

Austin Tang — Thu, 13 Feb 2020 20:30:53 +0000

Tickets Home Page

CLASSICAL VALENTINE’S EVENING CONCERT
Chopin, Champagne & Chocolate

Friday, February 14, 2020

Katya Grineva is a world-celebrated performer, Steinway artist, and she has the special distinction of performing more times at Carnegie Hall than any other solo female pianist. This Valentine’s evening, Ms. Grineva will be performing classical romantic favorites, and will be joined by acclaimed cellist Byron Duckwall. We are thrilled to have her back for the second year in a row, and excited to introduce Westchester’s own Marina Varriano, 15, who recently won third place in the 2019 Debut International Piano Competition and was a silver medalist in the 2018 U.S. Golden Key Music Festival.

We will celebrate our theater’s 40th anniversary, having been saved from the wrecking ball on Valentine’s Day 1980. A premium ticket package includes a post-show champagne & dessert reception with the artists on stage ($75).

THE PROGRAM
7:00 pm – Concert Preview Event
A special conversation with pianist Katya Grinvea and cellist Byron Duckwall moderated by Music Hall Executive Director Bjorn Olsson.

7:20 pm – Marina Varriano’s Music Hall Debut
The Music Hall is delighted to support young musicians and welcomes pianist Marina Varriano, age 15, from Westchester to our stage. Marina was the third place winner of the 2019 Debut International Piano Competition and silver medalist in the 2018 U.S. Golden Key Music Festival.

7:35 pm – Brief Intermission

8:00 pm – Performance by Pianist Katya Grineva and Cellist Byron Duckwall
Ms. Grineva is a world-celebrated musician who has the special distinction of performing more times at Carnegie Hall than any other solo female pianist. She will be joined by acclaimed cellist Mr. Duckwall. Together they will perform a program of romantic classical favorite including Debussy “Clair de Lune”, Chopin “Fantasie – Impromptu”, and Beethoven “Moonlight Sonata”

10:00 pm – Post-Show Champagne & Dessert Reception
Make This Valentine’s Day Truly Memorable
Reserve Your Tickets Now
Complimentary tickets available for all students graes K-12 accompanied by an adult
Thank You To Our Event Sponsors

GO TO TICKETS.TARRYTOWNMUSICHALL.ORG FOR FULL LISTINGS

#katya #grineva #champagne #chocolate #valentines #chopin #concert #february #tarry #music #hall #event #music #hall #marina #varriano #debut #cellist #byron #dickwall #musician #carnegie #westchester

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Audrey Joy has her Broadway Debut at the Palm Restaurant in New York, NewYork

admin — Mon, 08 May 2017 20:50:58 +0000

When: Thursday, Amril 6th, 7 PM
Where: the Palm Restaurant, 250 will. 50th St. (between Bdwy and Eighth Ave.)

No tickets or minimum required.

A packed house guarantees a job at the entire chain.

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MISS LEAH LANE TO DEBUT AT THE INTERNATIONAL DEBUTANTE BALL

admin — Fri, 23 Jan 2015 14:12:18 +0000

Miss Leah Lane, daughter of Stewart F. Lane and Bonnie Comley, of New York, will make her debut at The 60th International Debutante Ball on Monday, December 29th, in the Grand Ballroom of the Waldorf Astoria in New York City.
Leah Lane is an actor and writer in New York City. She is currently a junior at the Horace Mann School and has taken advantage of the many opportunities that living in New York City has to offer. Leah was introduced to charity work at an early age, accompanying her parents to different events. Her book, “This Never Happens in the City”, a children’s pre-school book about a young girl who lives in the city and summers in the country, was published in 2004. All proceeds benefit the Child Development Center of the Hamptons (CDCH), a school for children with learning differences and physical disabilities. Her charity work has also taken her to different countries including Peru, Kenya, Vietnam and Cambodia working with organizations such as Habitat For Humanity, Project Clean Water, The Clean Stove Project and St. Vincent Maisha Bora Center for Orphans. Leah is happy that a portion of the proceeds from the International Debutante Ball are allocated to the Soldiers’, Sailors’, Marines’, Coast Guard and Airmen’s Club of New York because both of her grandfathers, James F. Comley and Leonard C. Lane, proudly served in the military.
Leah has written the book for the children’s musical, Moey’s Fairytale Adventure which was performed at the Dix Hills Performing Arts Center, and a one act play, Sister’s Only which was written and performed in the Sondheim’s Young Playwrights Urban Retreat at Off-Broadway’s Lucille Lortell Theater. Leah was in the chorus for several shows including Most Happy Fella, Tosca, Saint of Bleecker Street, La Boheme, and Turnadot, all of which were produced at Dicapo Opera Theatre. She was one of the original cast members of Freckleface Strawberry and was in the Children’s chorus of the Metropolitan Opera’s production of Rusalka, starring Renee Fleming. She has also sung in the children’s chorus for the New York Pops and Lincoln Center.
Miss Leah Lane’s father, Stewart F. Lane, is a six-time Tony award and an Olivier award-winning producer. He has received numerous philanthropic and industry awards. Mr. Lane is co-owner and operator of the Palace Theatre with the Nederlander Organization and a partner in the Tribeca Grill with Robert De Niro. Leah’s mother, Bonnie Comley, is a three-time Tony winning producer of both theater and film. She has received an Olivier award, two Drama Desk awards, and many others for her work as a theater producer. Ms. Comley currently sits on the board of The Drama League, Emerson College, and The Theatre Museum. She has created scholarships funds at Columbia University Business Graduate School and at the Boston University College of Fine Arts Undergraduate School where a theater is named in her honor. She is also major supporter of the University of Massachusetts Lowell, where another theater is named in her honor, and at Emerson College where the Musical Theater Society Room bears her name. She is also on the Advisory Board of The City College Center for the Arts in New York City.
For her debut, Miss Leah Lane has chosen to wear an Oleg Cassini gown. The strapless ball gown features hand embroidered polished crystal beading intricately designed on Venise lace appliqués for the dramatic corset bodice narrowed to the waist. The opulent floor length skirt billows out to multi-tiers of layer upon layer of sheer organza.
The International Debutante Ball, founded in 1954, is considered one of the most prestigious debutante presentations. Young women of distinction from all over the country and around the globe are brought together at the ball and the surrounding parties with daughters of Diplomats, titled Europeans, Ambassadors, Governors and Presidents of the United States. Over the years the ball has benefited numerous charities from the International Debutante Ball Foundation, the primary one being the Soldiers’, Sailors’, Marines’, Coast Guard and Airmen’s Club of New York, which provides a home away from home for men and women of our Armed Services.

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ARCHDUCHESS ISABELLA MARIA LUISA VON HABSBURG-LOTHRINGEN TO DEBUT AT THE INTERNATIONAL DEBUTANTE BALL

admin — Fri, 16 Jan 2015 20:02:53 +0000

Archduchess Isabella Maria Luisa von Habsburg-Lothringen, daughter of Archduke Geza and Archduchess Elizabeth von Habsburg-Lothringen of Austria, will make her debut at The 60th International Debutante Ball on Monday, December 29th, 2014, in the Grand Ballroom of the Waldorf Astoria in New York City.

Isabella is a student at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. As a high school student at the Convent of the Sacred Heart in Greenwich, Connecticut, she was the Senior Editor and Executive Director for the Broadcast Journalism Course and received many journalism awards including Finalist at the National Film Festival for Talented Youth in Seattle, Washington, in 2013 for I Love You Bear. She also created four public service announcements, and two documentaries: Natural Disasters: Haiti and Striving For Greatness: Twin Lakes Farm. She is fluent in French and received the La Comtesse Nathalie d’Esterno Prix d’Excellence 2014 for excellence in French Studies. In addition, she has won many equitation awards including Champion, Saugerties Children’s Hunter Division, Saugerties, New York, and Top Ten, Low Hunter Division and Top Five Children’s Equitation Division, Fairfield-Westchester Professional Horseman’s Association. Isabella was also the President of the Cleats for Kids Club at Convent of the Sacred Heart and a volunteer at the Padre Pio Shelter, a shelter for homeless men in the Bronx.

Miss Isabella Maria Luisa von Habsburg-Lothringen’s father, the Archduke Geza von Habsburg-Lothringen is an internationally renowned author and leading authority on Fabergé. He is the son of Archduke Joseph Francis of Austria and Princess Anna of Saxony, the grandson of King Frederick Augustus III of Saxony and the great-great grandson of Emperor Franz-Joseph I of Austria. Her mother, the Archduchess Elizabeth von Habsburg-Lothringen is the Managing Director of the Winston Art Group. Her great-grandfather, Albert Kunstadter, founded Formfit, and her family runs the Albert Kunstadter Family Foundation, a New York-based philanthropy.
The International Debutante Ball, founded in 1954, is considered one of the most prestigious debutante presentations. Young women of distinction from all over the country and around the globe are brought together at the ball and the surrounding parties with daughters of Diplomats, titled Europeans, Ambassadors, Governors and Presidents of the United States. Over the years, the ball has benefited numerous charities through the International Debutante Ball Foundation, including one of its major beneficiaries, the Soldiers’, Sailors’, Marines’, Coast Guard and Airmen’s Club of New York, which provides a home away from home for the men and women of our Armed Services

FORTY-SIX WOMEN MADE THEIR BOWS AT THE 60th INTERNATIONAL DEBUTANTE BALL Monday, December 29th, 2014

Forty-six women of distinction from the United States and abroad made their bows to society at the 60th Anniversary of the International Debutante Ball. The debutantes represented Austria, China, England, Hong Kong, Scotland, Spain, Switzerland, Ukraine and twelve American states. Each debutante was accompanied by her own escort in white tie and tails, and a military cadet who carried the flag of the country or state which she represented. This year there were five sets of sisters.

Sponsored by Piaget, and The Muriel McBrien Kauffman Foundation the Ball benefits go to The International Debutante Ball Foundation which supports numerous charities. The primary charity is The Soldiers’, Sailors’, Marines’, Coast Guard and Airmen’s Club, a home away from home for the military and their families. Partial support will go to the American Ballet Theater, Friends of Versailles and the American Theater Wing among others.

The ball was founded in 1954 by Beatrice Dinsmore Joyce as a charity and the tradition continues today directed by her niece, Mrs. Gregory Scott Hedberg, Director and General Chairman. This year the Honorary Chairmen were Ms. Anne Eisenhower, Mrs. David R. Hamilton and Ms. Julia Irene Kauffman and Ball Chairmen included Mrs. Andrew E. Beer, Mrs. Spencer Neville Brown, Mrs. Ryland E.D. Chase, Mrs. D. David Eisenhower, Ms. Susan Eisenhower, and Mrs. William Dean McNaughton

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MISS FANNY TANG TO DEBUT AT THE INTERNATIONAL DEBUTANTE BALL

admin — Fri, 16 Jan 2015 20:00:41 +0000

Miss Fanny Tang, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Weixing Tang will make her debut at The 60th International Debutante Ball on Monday, December 29th, 2014, in the Grand Ballroom of the Waldorf Astoria in New York City.

Fanny attends the University of Lausanne’s Faculty of Biology and Medicine in Switzerland. She plays the piano, and loves music, writing, art and sports.

Miss Fanny Tang’s father, Weixing Tang, is the President of the China Sales Group LTD. Her mother, Honglin Zhang, is the President of CAASC Europe.
For her debut, Miss Fanny Tang has chose to wear a strapless gown designed by Guo Pei, one of the most renowned designers in China. The dress features gold accents, including golden flowers embellished with Swarovski crystals.
The International Debutante Ball, founded in 1954, is considered one of the most prestigious debutante presentations. Young women of distinction from all over the country and around the globe are brought together at the ball and the surrounding parties with daughters of Diplomats, titled Europeans, Ambassadors, Governors and Presidents of the United States. Over the years, the ball has benefited numerous charities through the International Debutante Ball Foundation, including one of its major beneficiaries, the Soldiers’, Sailors’, Marines’, Coast Guard and Airmen’s Club of New York, which provides a home away from home for the men and women of our Armed Services.

FORTY-SIX WOMEN MADE THEIR BOWS AT THE 60th INTERNATIONAL DEBUTANTE BALL Monday, December 29th, 2014

For more information: www.internationaldebutanteball.com

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MISS ISABELLA TANG TO DEBUT AT THE INTERNATIONAL DEBUTANTE BALL

admin — Wed, 14 Jan 2015 19:22:28 +0000

Miss Isabella Tang, daughter of Mr. Nai Pan and Sheena Lam of Hong Kong, China, will make her debut at The 60th International Debutante Ball on Monday, December 29th, 2014, in the Grand Ballroom of the Waldorf Astoria in New York City.

Isabella is a student at the University of California in Los Angeles, California. Her father, Mr. Nai Pan Tang, is a banker with Chong Hing Bank in Hong Kong. Her mother, Mrs. Sheena Lam, is a banker with Deutsche Bank in Hong Kong.
The International Debutante Ball, founded in 1954, is considered one of the most prestigious debutante presentations. Young women of distinction from all over the country and around the globe are brought together at the ball and the surrounding parties with daughters of Diplomats, titled Europeans, Ambassadors, Governors and Presidents of the United States. Over the years, the ball has benefited numerous charities through the International Debutante Ball Foundation, including one of its major beneficiaries, the Soldiers’, Sailors’, Marines’, Coast Guard and Airmen’s Club of New York, which provides a home away from home for the men and women of our Armed Services.

The post MISS ISABELLA TANG TO DEBUT AT THE INTERNATIONAL DEBUTANTE BALL appeared first on Good News!.

Japan Society presents The North American Debut of SHOMYO NO KAI

admin — Wed, 19 Feb 2014 15:14:09 +0000

Voices of a Thousand Years

Transcendent Buddhist Chant

North American Premiere of “Life in an Autumn”

by Composer Ushio Torikai

Thursday March 6, 2014

7:30pm at St. Bartholomew’s Church

Japan Society, in conjunction with the Mid-Manhattan Performing Arts Foundation, is proud to present the North American debut of Shomyo no Kai – Voices of a Thousand Years on March 6 at St. Bartholomew’s Church in midtown Manhattan.

The ritual choral chanting of Japanese Buddhist scripture known as shomyo boasts a history of over 1300 years, placing it alongside Gregorian chant as among the world’s oldest continually performed musical forms. Shomyo (literally meaning “voice clarity”) is believed to have originated in India before traveling along the Silk Road and entering Japan in the sixth century, where it has been practiced ever since. Seldom heard outside of Buddhist temples, live performances of shomyo in the Western world by traditional practitioners are noteworthy.

Shomyo no Kai – Voices of a Thousand Years comprises priests from two of Japan’s major Buddhist sects, the Shingon and Tendai sects. With a mission to preserve and develop the art of shomyo, the group has been actively performing this song form for over twenty years to audiences in concert halls across the world. The group, originally called Shomyo Yonin no Kai, was founded in 1997 by modern shomyo pioneers Rev. Yusho Kojima and Rev. Kojun Arai (Shingon sect) and Rev. Koshin Ebihara and Rev. Jiko Kyoto (Tendai sect). On March 6, Shomyo no Kai – Voices of a Thousand Years will perform the North American premiere of the contemporary shomyo work Life in an Autumn, written by New York and Tokyo-based composer Ushio Torikai. Clad in brightly colored monastic robes, the choir alternates between monotone stillness and ecstatic polyphony. The ethereal voices of Shomyo no Kai swell in powerful harmony, enrapturing the listener into a transcendent meditative state. Set in the exceptional acoustics and grand sacred space of St. Bartholomew’s Church, this concert offers a rare opportunity to hear these ancient ritual songs come to vibrant life.

Borrowing some of its text from a Japanese translation of American poet Nancy Wood’s interpretation of Native American healing prayers, Torikai’s Life in an Autumn is a modern meditation on mortality, inspired by the tragic events of September 11th, 2001. The piece premiered in 2002 in Japan and was restaged in Tokyo in 2012 as a requiem for the victims of Japan’s March 11 earthquake and tsunami. “Since September 11, 2001, I have been preoccupied with thoughts about the nature of human life, of ethnicity and of human civilization,” says Torikai. “Music and religion in particular are very closely related. Music constitutes the ethnic identity of people all over the world, an expression of the beauty of wonderfully varied lives. Religious music is the most positive eulogy of life.” With Life in an Autumn, now to be performed around the third anniversary of the 3/11 Japanese disaster, Torikai and Shomyo no Kai present a palliative prayer that is at once contemporary and immemorial, superseding the dividing lines of Christianity and Buddhism, American or Japanese, natural or manmade disaster.

On the day of the performance, composer Ushio Torikai will lead a pre-performance lecture on the history and musical form of shomyo at St. Bart’s Chapel one hour before the performance. This lecture is free and open to Shomyo no Kai ticket holders but is limited to only the first 120 attendees; first come, first served.

Japan Society is partnering with The Mid-Manhattan Performing Arts Foundation to present this concert at MMPAF’s home for live performance, St. Bart’s. “We are excited to showcase this sacred music in a sacred space,” says Japan Society Artistic Director Yoko Shioya. “St. Bartholomew Church offers unparalleled resonance and beautifully engaging architecture. It also offers the opportunity for a broader, larger audience to connect with the venerable shomyo tradition. The juxtaposition of Christianity and Buddhism is further leavened by the non-secular nature of the work being performed, resulting in a performance that is truly universal.”

Japan Society’s produced and organized tour of Shomyo no Kai – Voices of a Thousand Years includes stops at Haverford College in Haverford, PA (March 2) and The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC (March 8).

Tickets for the New York event are $30 ($24 for Japan Society and St. Bartholomew’s Church / Friends of Great Music members) . All seats are general admission. Tickets are available now on the Japan Society website, in person at the Japan Society Box Office, by phone via Japan Society’s Box Office at 212-715-1258. Tickets are available at St. Bartholomew’s Church on the day of the performance from 5:00pm until showtime, subject to availability.

RELATED EVENT

Japan Society invites two experts in the field of Buddhist teaching and shomyo for a special discussion and staged demonstration at Japan Society on Tuesday March 4th at 6:30pm. Columbia UniversityProfessor Robert A.F. Thurman, a leading American expert on Tibetan Buddhism and the first Westerner to be ordained a Tibetan Buddhist monk by H.H. the Dalai Lama, has been instrumental in popularizing the Buddha’s teachings in the West. In this lecture, Prof. Thurman explores connections between Japanese and Indo-Tibetan Buddhism and joins in a discussion with Kojun Arai, priest of Japan’s Shingon Buddhist sect and leading member of Shomyo no Kai – Voices of a Thousand Years, which culminates with an on-stage demonstration of what is considered one of the oldest forms of vocal music. Tickets to this lecture are available through the Japan Society website:

http://www.japansociety.org/event/suspending-the-buddhism-divide-the-indo-tibetan-japanese-mikkyo-bridge

ARTIST BIOGRAPHIES

Shomyo no Kai – Voices of a Thousand Years actively presents traditional shomyo performances to audiences at such prestigious venues as the National Theatre of Japan. Shomyo no Kai is one of the field’s predominant performers of contemporary shomyo works, regularly premiering pieces written for the group by leading Japanese composers such as Yuji Takahashi’s Ooinaru Shi no Monogatari, Atsuhiko Gondai’sSacred Fire/Sacred Light, Rikuya Terashima’s Muichimotsu no Sho – Ryokan ni Yosete, Mamoru Fujieda’s Wind Chant and Night Chant, and Kazuo Kikkawa’s Rongi Grand Vegetarian Festival. These contemporary works have been introduced under The Spiral Shomyo Concert Series at Tokyo’s foremost contemporary arts center, Spiral Hall, since 1998, directed by Director of the National Theatre of Japan Hiromi Tamuro and produced by Junko Hanamitsu of Kaibun-sha. Last year, this series celebrated its 20th concert. Shomyo no Kai – Voices of a Thousand Years has released CDs (produced by Japan Traditional Cultures Foundation) featuring A UN and Life in an Autumn, both compositions by Ushio Torikai.

Ushio Torikai (composer) is known for her highly individual musical voice, developed over many years of research and compositional experience in diverse musical fields including European classical music, traditional Japanese music, ancient Japanese music and computer/electronics. Torikai began a concert series of her own music in 1979 in Tokyo, and was invited to the Paris Biennale in 1982. Her music has been presented in major cities in Europe, North America and Japan, including at Georges Pompidou Center (Paris), the Museum of Modern Art (San Francisco) and Walker Art Center (Minneapolis). Her compositions vary considerably in instrumentation, ranging from Western orchestral instruments to traditional Japanese ones; computer/electronics to reconstructed ancient Asian instruments; and Western Choir to Japanese Buddhist monks’ chants. Torikai has received commissions from Ensemble Modern (Frankfurt), the Modern Art Sextet Berlin, the City of Los Angeles, the Kronos Quartet, the Ensemble Continuum (New York), the Canadian Electronic Ensemble, the Japan Broadcasting Corporation and The National Theatre of Japan, to name a few. Commissioned pieces range from works for concert music and opera to a permanent music installation in a public park. Her career is also characterized by a diversity of multidisciplinary collaborative activity. She has a long history of involvement as composer, in theater, in dance and in multi-media projects. The New York Times wrote “Torikai has a wide ranging musical imagination….[Her] music was spectacular, exuberant, radical and dense.” She occasionally writes about Japanese social phenomena for Japanese newspapers and magazines. Currently Ms. Torikai is working on a composition Remember for Solo Baritone and Full Orchestra, dedicated to the fallen soldiers. She divides her time between New York and Japan.

For high-resolution photos, press passes or for additional questions, please contact John Seroff at GreenHousePublicity@gmail.com

VENUE INFORMATION

St. Bartholomew’s Church is located at 325 Park Avenue, just off 51st Street, readily accessible from the 6 train via the 51st Street Station or the E / M at Lexington Avenue and 53rd Street. More information about the history of St. Bart’s and its music programs can be found on their website at http://www.stbarts.org/

Japan Society is located at 333 East 47th Street, between First and Second Avenues, easily accessible by the 4 / 5 / 6 trains via the 42nd Street-Grand Central Station or the E / M at Lexington Avenue and 53rd Street. Tickets for performances and related events at Japan Society may be purchased by calling the Box Office at 212-715-1258 or in person at Japan Society (M-F 11:00am – 6:00pm and Sat-Sun 11:00am – 5:00pm).

For more information about shows, questions about the venue or to learn more about the entire Performing Arts season at Japan Society, please call 212-715-1258 or visit us on the web at:

http://www.japansociety.org/performingarts

ABOUT JAPAN SOCIETY + THE PERFORMING ARTS PROGRAM

Founded in 1907, Japan Society is a world-class, multidisciplinary hub for both English and Japanese-speaking artists and audiences. At the Society, more than 100 events each year feature sophisticated, topically relevant presentations of Japanese art and culture and open, critical dialogue on issues of vital importance to the U.S., Japan and East Asia. An American nonprofit, nonpolitical organization, the Society cultivates a constructive, resonant and dynamic relationship between the people of the U.S. and Japan.

Since its inception, Japan Society’s Performing Arts Program has presented well over 600 events of the finest Japanese theater, dance, and music from the most stunningly preserved traditional to the genre busting cutting-edge. Today the program continues to push boundaries, educate and make creative visions come to life by presenting and touring works by leading international artists, promoting cross-cultural exchanges, commissioning new works and coordinating artist residencies and public programs. Beginning with its first ambitious presentation in 1953 at Columbia University, the Society has shared the unique arts and culture of Japan with U.S. audiences. In 1957, the Program began actively presenting Japanese musicians of both Eastern and Western traditions through concerts at schools and leading New York City venues. In the years to follow, programs such as gagaku Imperial Court music (1959) and the NY premiere of bunraku (1966) were among Americans’ first tastes of the traditional performing arts of Japan.
In 1971, the completion of the Society’s building (landmarked in 2011) at the current location gave the program a permanent stage of its own and opened its doors for year-round presentations. The space was inaugurated with a concert by the Tokyo String Quartet. Subsequent breakthrough presentations include Awaji Puppet Theater (1971); Eiko & Koma U.S. debut (1976); a two-week-long run of Grand Kabuki (1982) at the Metropolitan Opera House; Tadashi Suzuki’s The Trojan Women/The Bacchae (1982); and Sankai Juku (1990) at New York City Center. In 1992, a major donation from the Lila Acheson Wallace/Japan Society Fund enhanced the Society’s auditorium, enabling the Program to vastly expand its offerings. Highlights in the years following include Yamabushi Kagura (1994); Toru Takemitsu’s memorial concert (1996); Seinendan Theater Company U.S. debut (2000); and Mansaku-no-Kai Kyogen Company (2003), to name a few. In 2006, an exclusive Performing Arts Program endowment was established through a matching grant from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, allowing the Program to increase the frequency and scale of its commissions to non-Japanese artists for the creation of new works inspired by the culture of Japan. In addition, the Program has collaborated with world-class cultural organizations such as Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, The Public Theater, BAM and the Guggenheim Museum; and the Program’s leadership role in Society-produced North-American tours of Japanese performing artists has earned it recognition among presenters around the world.

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