NEWS

Four week composer residency at I-Park Foundation in Connecticut.
Pictured below with the other artists from different disciplines.

July 12, 2024 performance of BREATHING BAMBOO with members of the renowned SHAKUHACHI 5.

L to R Akihisa Kominato, Ken-Ichi Tajima, myself, Akihito Obama.

June 21, 2024

Performance by Kyo Shin An Shakuhachi Dojo, as part of Make Music New York, an annual event every June 21st.

Review in GRAMAPHONE UK from Debra Kaye’s new album. “In complete contrast, three zen poems is a trio for shakuhachi, viola and cello (2019, rev 2022), inspired by verses from 15th- and 16th-century Zen Buddhist monks. A work of more philosophical character, James Schlefer’s playing of the Japanese instrument is mesmerising, and he is sensitively accompanied by David Yang and Hikaru Tamaki.”

Premier of TOMMY for Shakuhachi, Koto, Shamisen and String Quartet. Performances in St. Louis and New York - March and April 2024.

Arianna String Quartet, James Nyoraku Schlefer (composer and shakuhachi) Yoko Reikano Kimura (koto) Sumie Kaneko (Shamisen) - and TOMMY in 1860.

Three Zen Poems by Debra Kaye - Shakuhachi, Viola and Cello. March 1, 2024 release.

https://www.navonarecords.com/catalog/nv6604/

Performance of the classic duet “Shika no Tone” on December 10, 2023 with Kurahashi Yodo II in Kyoto, Japan.

REVIEW of Kammerraku Promise.
Click HERE

European Shakuhachi Society’s Summer School in Balbriggan, Ireland. July 2023.

April 2023 tour with Eastern Light sankyoku ensemble. Performances in PA, CT, MA, and NY, including Bargemusic (left).
Video recording of the program will be available this summer.

Concerts in Serbia April 12 and 13, 2023. Performances in Belgrade and Novi Sad including my own composition “Concertante”.
Click HERE to see the video.
00:00 Aleksandra Verbalov’s “Four Ethereal Pieces”
22:00 James Nyoraku Schlefer’s “Concertante” Three movements
58:00 Stravinsky “Firebird Suite”

Above: Rehearsal in Novi Sad
Below: Final performance in Belgrade

“Silk Road Journey to the East” with the EURASIA CONSORT on March 23, 2023
Video for this performance is HERE (scroll to 7:00)

SHAMROCK SPRING was a huge success on March 19, 2023

Performance at Carnegie Hall of Karl Jenkins’ REQUIEM, January 16, 2023

Recent performance at the elegant Prospect Park Boathouse. January 7, 2023. Thank you Tea Arts and Culture.

MOON THROUGH THE PINES, for Shakuhachi, Koto, Shamisen and Voice, premiered in October 2022. Click to see the performance in St. Louis.

SONG OF THE QUARRY, Commissioned by Manitoga for performance around the quarry pool, was premiered on October, 2nd.

First performance of 2022 at the Ambassador’s Residence of the Consulate General of Japan in New York.

August 23, 2021 Article in HOGAKU JOURNAL about leading non-Japanese shakuhachi players from around the world.

May 17-30 Invited Guest at the Hermitage Artist Retreat for composing new music for shakuhachi and two other projects. Hermitage Website: HERE

April 15, 2021 First Live Concert in over one year, “The Japanese Connection” featuring Jay Reise’ “Urushima Taro” at UMBC.

March 14, 2021 MUSIC MATTERS podcast.

January 6, 2021 Featured in an article in the NY TIMES about the flute. 

October 8, 2020 DOJO EVENT

Shakuhachi Students in Kyo Shin An Shakuhachi Dojo participate in “World Shakuhachi Day.” The goal was to play the lowest note on the shakuhachi 108 times in a global effort to “blow away covid.” Why 108? In Buddhism, there are said to be 108 earthly desires in mortals, 108 lies humans tell and 108 human delusions. In Japan, at the end of the year, a bell is chimed 108 times in Buddhist temples to finish the old year and welcome the new one.  Each ring represents one of the 108 earthly temptations a person must overcome to achieve nirvana.