Ensemble East

Ensemble East brings the rich musical tradition of Japanese classical music to Williamstown for listeners to discover and enjoy. Ensemble East is a chamber music ensemble from New York featuring Japanese instruments: koto, a thirteen stringed instrument with moveable bridges; shamisen, a three stringed instrument; and shakuhachi, a type of Japanese bamboo flute, which is already well known to Western ears. The group has toured throughout the US, South America and the Caribbean and each individual member has a distinguished international performing and recording career. Ensemble East performs the classical music of Japan’s Edo period as well as modern and contemporary ensemble music for Japanese instruments.

The musicians of Ensemble East bring the atmosphere and sounds of another culture to Brooks-Rogers Recital Hall. Masayo Ishigure, a native of Japan, began studying the Koto at a very early age and later studied under the modern school of Koto music of Tadao and Kazue Sawai. The recipient of numerous awards, her vast concert and recording experience are apparent in every note.

Called “A Master of the Shakuhachi” by The New York Times, James Nyoraku Schlefer is a leading performer and teacher of shakuhachi in New York City. He received the Dai-Shi-Han or Grand Master’s Certificate in 2001, one of only a handful of non-Japanese to receive this high level award. He holds a Master’s degree in Western flute and musicology from Queens College and currently teaches music history courses at the City University of New York. Mr. Schlefer has three solo recordings, Wind Heart (which travels 120,000,000 miles aboard the Space Station MIR), Solstice Spirit (1998) and Flare Up (2002). His music has been featured on NPR’s All Things Considered.

In 1982, Charles Wei-Ting Tang was officially recognized by the Republic of China Ministry of Education as a “Gifted Child in the Performing Arts.” He came to the U.S. later that year, and continued his studies at The Juilliard School under Kathrine Parker, and later Martin Canin. Mr. Tang also studied koto with Masayo Ishigure.

From tales of the geisha, to the poetry of nature, the stories of old Japan unfold in this rich musical tradition. Modern solo and ensemble music brings contemporary relevance to their programs. Providing a gateway to Japanese poetry, literature and story telling, the music speaks a language that everyone can understand.

Event Program