Ganbare Nippon Event - Performers on Stage

Performers on Stage

Masaki Furukawa (Odaiko Solo)

Masaki Furukawa started performing Taiko in New York in 1994 as a part of practices at a Buddhist temple.
After moving to North Carolina, he joined the Triangle Taiko in 2004.  He has not been actively performing since 2008, but he still performs in public a few times a year.  He is an architect and also an ordained lay Buddhist priest.

 

Christine Weidinger (Former Metropolitan Opera Star)
Aria from “Madam Butterfly”

After a long and prestigious career as an opera singer, starting at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, Christine Weidinger traveled to Europe to begin her international career.  Starting with Mozart and Handel, she quickly graduated to the bel canto literature, singing often at La Scala Milan, the Liceu in Barcelona, the Los Angeles Opera, and quite often in Santiago de Chile as well as Rio de Janeiro, Caracas, and Buenos Aires.  Since retiring from her singing career, she has founded Triangle Opera Studios, helping local singers to learn and perform operatic roles.  She still sings recitals. 

Catherine LeGrand (Flutist)
Songs composed by Kosaku Yamada

Catherine LeGrand maintains a busy schedule as soloist, chamber musician, studio teacher, traveling pedagogue, and clinician. Her website provides information and resources for students and educators on breathing, music performance and pedagogy, creativity, and flute-playing. She has three albums in current release including Inspirations:  Music for solo flute.

Yuri Yamamoto (Piano)

Yuri Yamamoto frequently performs as a soloist and a collaborative pianist in the Triangle area. She is particularly interested in performing works of Japanese composers. Yuri is the Director of Music at Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Raleigh where she directs the choir and also plays piano.

 

Ken Akiyama (Electone-Electric Organ)

Ken Akiyama has played Electone, electric organ, since he was 5 years. He is now senior of Green Hope High School in Cary. Before he came to USA with his family, he won the Grand Prix at 2009 East Japan Yamaha Electone Festival. He is now enjoying his own role as an evangelist of Electone.

 

Anatolian Waves by American Turkish Association of NC (ATA-NC)
(Turkish Folk Dance)  “Dances Halay” “Karadeniz”

The primary objective of the Anatolian Waves is to promote the rich and diverse culture of Turkey through folk dances. They present a range of dances from different regions of Turkey using modern interpretations and choreographies to these traditional folk dances.  
http://anatolianwaves.com

Triangle Special Taiko
(Taiko:Japanese Drumming)

Being active since 2005 as a sister group of Triangle Taiko. Members are volunteers from North Carolina athletes with intellectual disabilities. They were invited to perform in Twelfth Disabled Persons’ Nippon Taiko Festival held at Narita, Japan, last year.  They became big fan of Japan since then.
See the blog: https://sites.google.com/site/trianglespecialtaiko/

Triangle Taiko

Japanese Drumming Group founded in 2002 under Nippon Club of the Triangle.  The club consists of around 25 volunteers currently, who are dedicated to the exploration and performances of Taiko for cultural exchange and community service.
Web site: http://www.triangletaiko.org/

Lisa Furukawa  (Singer, Songwriter)

Lisa Furukawa is a Japanese-American singer/songwriter/pianist originally from Tokyo. She has been performing as an independent folk/pop artist at many cultural events and anime conventions internationally and has released 4 CD albums of original songs. She currently resides and teaches music and Japanese in NC, and her website is www.lisafurukawa.com

Wasabi & Tears  (Japanese Acoustic Duo) 

Wasabi and Tears is a NC based duo comprised of members from the rock band Fujiyama Roll. The members include vocalist Junko and guitarist Jimmy. This is the softer, acoustic side. They play Japanese songs (covers of good old Japanese pop and original songs) for any event in NC and more! Since both of them are originally from Japan, you can enjoy real Japanese live music entertainment!!  website http://www.reverbnation.com/wasabiandtears