RAM & Tokyo to New York at Martha Graham Studio

RAM & Tokyo to New York: Music & Dance

Friday, November 14, 2025 at 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, November 15, 2025 at 8:00 p.m.

Martha Graham Studio Theater – 55 Bethune Street

Tickets: $25 Adults | $10 Students

Random Access Music and Tokyo to New York bring movement and sound together in a two-night event at the Martha Graham Studio Theater.

This program celebrates the exchange between music and dance, featuring acclaimed dancer and choreographer Henning Rübsam in dynamic new collaborations with the composers and performers of RAM. The concert presents three world premieres commissioned by Random Access Music and Thomas Piercy—new works by Beata Moon, Frances White, and Andrea Casarrubios—together with recent compositions by Masatora Goya and Roger Stubblefield.

To purchase tickets, please visit simpletix.com. Cash and credit cards will be accepted at the door.

Featuring

• Henning Rübsam – Dancer/choreographer

• Hélène Taddei Lawson – Dancer/choreographer

• Violetta Klimczewska – Dancer

Musicians

• Lish Lindsey – Flutes

• Thomas Piercy – Clarinet / hichiriki

• Sabina Torosjan – Violin

• Molly Aronson – Cello

• Marina Iwao – Piano

Music by RAM Composers

• Beata Moon

• Masatora Goya

• Allen Schulz

• Frances White

Guest Composers

• Andrea Casarrubios

• Roger Stubblefield

"Fifteen Minutes of Fame" Composers

As part of the “Fifteen Minutes of Fame” project, audiences will also hear the premieres of 15 one-minute duos for hichiriki and low flutes.

• Nantenaina Andriamorasata

• Vahan Luder Artinian

• David Bohn

• Ross James Carey

• Monica Chew

• Philip Czapłowski

• Douglas DaSilva

• Paolo Geminiani

• Simon Hutchinson

• Sakiko Kosaka

• Matt A. Mason

• Gene Pritsker

• Allen Schulz

• Jane Wang

• Dalen Wuest

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Kabuki, Noh, and More at Carnegie Hall

An Evening of Traditional Japanese Arts

Friday, November 14 at 8:00 p.m.

Carnegie Hall | Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage – 57th Street and 7th Avenue

Admission: $86.50 - $226

Carnegie Hall will be the site of a very special performance: An Evening of Traditional Japaense Arts. Discover the heritage and evolution of Noh and Kabuki theater, taiko drumming, the three-stringed shamisen, and more led by today’s foremost actors, musicians, and representatives of art forms that have been handed down and passionately studied for centuries.

Performers

• Hirotada Kamei – Noh Musician

• Denzaemon Tanaka – Kabuki Musician

• Denjiro Tanaka – Kabuki Musician

• Yoshimasa Kanze – Noh Actor

• Takanobu Sakaguchi – Noh Actor

• Saburota Kanze – Noh Actor

• Hayato Nakamura – Kabuki Actor

• Hiromitsu Agatsuma – Shamisen

• Kouki Agatsuma – Shamisen

• Masaru Tsuji – Wadaiko

• Ryotaro Leo Ikenaga – Wadaiko

• Suguha Otani – Japanese Dance

• Yumi Kurosawa – Koto

• Takuya Iwata – Shakuhachi

• Yuichi Otsuki – Noh Actor

• Manabu Takeichi – Noh Musician

• Wakichi Kineya – Nagauta Singer

• Chotatsuro Imafuji – Nagauta Shamisen

• Gotaro Kineya – Nagauta Musician

• Katsueiji Kineya – Nagauta Musician

• Katsukuniharu Kineya – Nagauta Musician

• Tatsujuro Imafuji – Nagauta Musician

• Kan Fukuhara – Shinobue

The performance will last approximately two and a half hours with one 20-minute intermission. To purchase tickets, please visit Carnegie Hall’s website.

An Evening of Traditional Japanese Arts by Kosuke Yoshino

Sankyokai

Sankyokai (“Three Resonances”) is an ensemble dedicated to exploring new artistic possibilities through the sound of hayashi—the traditional musical accompaniment of Noh and Kabuki—by fusing the resonances of Japan’s two foremost traditional performing arts. Since its founding in 1997, the group has carried forward the spirit of classical performance while continuing to create sounds that transcend time.

The members are three brothers: Hirotada Kamei, head of the Kadono School of Noh Otsuzumi (large hand drum); Denzaemon Tanaka XIII, head of the Tanaka School of Kabuki music; and Denjiro Tanaka VII, also a Kabuki musician of the Tanaka School.

Their father, Tadao Kamei, was a Living National Treasure in Japan and head of the Kadono School of Noh drumming who performed at Carnegie Hall in 2016; their mother, Sataro Tanaka IX, was the head of the Tanaka School of Kabuki music. Born to parents who represented these two distinct classical traditions, the brothers literally embody the meeting point of Noh and Kabuki.

From early childhood, they grew up exploring boundaries seamlessly between the two worlds—Noh, with its 600-year-old spiritual rigor; and Kabuki, born 200 years later with its vivid theatricality. As they matured, each pursued his own professional path: the eldest, Hirotada, in Noh; the middle brother, Denzaemon, and the youngest, Denjiro, in Kabuki. Yet through years of training, they began to sense a shared desire: to discover a form of expression that could transition between these traditions without breaking their structure or form.

Out of this belief, Sankyokai was born. Three Resonances reflects both the trio’s instruments—Hirotada’s Otsuzumi, Denzaemon’s Kotsuzumi, and Denjiro’s Taiko—and their wish to create a unified resonance born from their individual spirits. From its inception, Sankyokai has sought to present the timeless allure of classical performance in a contemporary context, finding new vitality in the dialogue and contrast between Noh and Kabuki. Today, the three brothers continue their journey as performers, creators, and stewards of Japan’s classical heritage, carrying it forward into the future.

Glossary of Terms

If you are new to traditional Japanese arts, you may not be familiar with the terms in this post. Please refer to the brief primer below to get you up to speed.

Kabuki: Classical Japanese theater that combines singing, acting, and dramatic poses and is known for elaborate costumes and makeup. Although men have performed all the roles since the mid-17th century, kabuki was established by a woman, Izumo no Okuni, around the year 1603. In 2008, UNESCO inscribed kabuki in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Noh: Japan’s oldest major theatrical art form, which has been performed since the 14th century. Based on literary tales, noh’s themes revolve around regret and spiritual transformation. Actors use masks to emphasize emotion and props such as folding fans to enhance the story.  

Shamisen: Three-stringed, banjo-like instrument with a long neck and a distinct twangy sound. As one of the instruments providing accompaniment for kabuki, the shamisen enhances dramatic scenes and sets the mood. Originating in China, the Ryukyu Kingdom (what is now Okinawa Prefecture) introduced the instrument to mainland Japan in the mid-16th century.

Wadaiko: The traditional art of Japanese drumming, encompassing drums of a variety of sizes played by a group. Accompanying both kabuki and noh, wadaiko provides rhythm and sound effects and helps to create dramatic tension.

Japanese Dance: Known as Nihon buyo, traditional Japanese dance grew out of kabuki in the 17th century. It is a style of visual storytelling that incorporates refined movements and precise gestures.

Koto: The national instrument of Japan. The koto is a zither made of Paulownia wood and typically has 13 silk strings. Originally associated with gagaku, or court music, the koto is not standard in kabuki or noh.

Shakuhachi: Vertically held Japanese bamboo flute. First introduced from China in the 8th century, the shakuhachi was a staple in gagaku (court) music and later became used in Zen Buddhist meditation.

Nagauta: Genre of traditional Japanese music that literally means “long song.” Developed around the year 1740, nagauta is performed on shamisen to accompany kabuki. It is a lyrical style of music, focused more on expression rather than storytelling.

Shinobue: Japanese transverse bamboo flute with a high-pitched sound. In addition to its important role in kabuki and noh ensembles, the shinobue is integral to Shinto rituals as well as festivals and folk music.

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Celebrating the Music of James Nyoraku Schlefer

Kammerraku Encore

Saturday, March 22 at 7:30 p.m.

Tenri Cultural Institute – 43A W. 13th Street (between 5th and 6th Avenues)

Admission: $25 in Advance | $30 at the Door

Kyo-Shin-An Arts and Arts at TCI present Kammerraku Encore, KSA's first celebration of the music of shakuhachi Grand Master James Nyoraku Schlefer.

This program of audience favorites features the always extraordinary Arianna Quartet and the world premiere of Schlefer’s delightfully irreverent Bamboo Dances for shakuhachi and string quartet. To purchase tickets, please visit Schlefer’s website.

Performers

• Sumie Kaneko – Shamisen and voice

• Yoko Reikano Kimura – Koto and voice

• James Nyoraku Schlefer – Shakuhachi

• Arianna String Quartet
  John McGrosso and Jane Price, violins; Joanna Mendoza, viola; Kurt Baldwin, cello

PROGRAM

• Moon through the Pines by James Nyoraku Schlefer 
  koto, shamisen, shakuhachi

• Bamboo Dances by James Nyoraku Schlefer – World Premiere
  shakuhachi and string quartet
  Moveoverture
  Jubislidy (aka Slickback)
  Valse Macabre
  Chacachacarera
  Bogakuraku
  Jiggy Gigue
  Galoopy
  Interludy
  Racherachenitsa

• Tommy – a musical fantasy based on a true story by James Nyoraku Schlefer 
  shakuhachi, koto, shamisen and string quartet

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Monday Michiru Returns to Joe’s Pub

Monday Michiru

Thursday, March 6 at 7:00 p.m. (doors open at 6:00 p.m.)

Joe’s Pub – 425 Lafayette Place (at Astor Place)

Admission: $36

Japanese American songstress Monday Michiru returns to Joe's Pub presenting her unique style of original music inspired by soul, jazz, Brazilian, and other urban flavors supported by some of New York's top musicians. Joining her on stage are Misha Tsiganov, Sean Harkness, Fima Ephron, Adrian Harpham, and Sumie Kaneko.

There is a two-drink or one-food item minimum per person. To purchase tickets, please go to publictheater.org.

Photo by Takashi Matsuzaki

About Monday Michiru

Named to reflect both her Japanese and American Italian heritages, Monday Michiru started her musical endeavors with studying classical flute then expanded to singing and songwriting. The daughter of famed jazz musicians Toshiko Akiyoshi and Charlie Mariano and stepdaughter of venerable flautist Lew Tabackin, Michiru easily adapted the language of jazz heard at home into her other musical influences, which range from soul to urban club to Brazilian and more. 

Her 1987 debut in Japan was not in music but as an actress, which garnered her Best New Actress awards that allowed her to expand her career by acting in movies, theater, and television, as well as hosting her own video programs and modeling for major commercial ads.

Since her solo record debut in 1991, Michiru has consistently released albums as a solo artist as well as a featured guest on international projects. Her musical style runs the gamut from house to jazz to Latin to soul, an indefinable hybrid that is undeniably hers. To learn more, please visit her website.

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Japanese German Pianist to Make NY Phil Debut

Alice Sara Ott Performs Ravel

Thursday, April 4 at 7:30 p.m.
Friday, April 5 at 11:00 a.m.
Saturday, April 6 at 8:00 p.m.

Wu Tsai Theater, David Geffen Hall – 10 Lincoln Center Plaza

Admission: $115 to $263 (plus fees)

In her New York Philharmonic debut, Japanese German pianist Alice Sara Ott performs Ravel’s lush, jazz-influenced G-major Piano Concerto. The program, led by Karina Canellakis, who is also making her NY Phil debut, begins with Webern’s remarkably spare, yet haunting Six Pieces. The concert’s two-tone poems look past earthly life: Richard Strauss’s meditation on the death of an artist and Scriabin’s mystical and rhapsodic Poem of Ecstasy.

Alice Sara Ott from NY Phil’s website

Program

• Webern – Six Pieces for Orchestra, Op. 6 (1928 version)

• R. Strauss – Tod und Verklärung (Death and Transfiguration)

• Ravel – Piano Concerto in G major

• Scriabin – Le Poème de l’extase (The Poem of Ecstasy)

To purchase tickets, please visit NY Phil’s website.

Star Pianists

This concert is part of NY Phil’s Star Pianists series. Experience breathtaking virtuosity, timeless melodies, and exciting premieres with this season’s star pianists. The series features captivating performances of classical and contemporary works all season long.

About Alice Sara Ott

Thirty-five-year-old Alice Sara Ott was born in Munich. Her father is a German engineer, and her mother is a Japanese pianist. In a 2022 article in music website Interlude, Ott says of her Japanese heritage, “My whole life was spent questioning: Am I German? Am I Japanese? What am I? I found my answer when I became a musician because in music, nationality doesn’t matter at all.” Learn more about Ott through her website and Instagram.

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Duo YUMENO to Pay Tribute to Late Japanese Composer

Music of Changes: Tribute to Toshi Ichiyanagi

Saturday, January 27 from 7:30 p.m. until 9:00 p.m.

Tenri Cultural Institute – 43A W. 13th Street (between5th and 6th Avenues)

Admission: $30

Duo YUMENO—Yoko Reikano Kimura on koto and shamisen and Hikaru Tamaki on cello—and special guest pianist Vicky Chow will pay homage to the legendary composer Toshi Ichiyanagi. Ichiyanagi, who passed away in 2022, was a protégé of John Cage during the 1960s and had a profound influence on the post-war Japanese music landscape.

Presented by Duo YUMENO, the program will explore Ichiyanagi’s music, written for both traditional Japanese and Western instruments, and will celebrate his six-decade-long career. Highlights include Paraphrase for shamisen and cello (2019), which was commissioned by the duo; Time Sequence (1976), a dazzling piano solo in the minimalist style; and Linked Poems of Autumn (1990), Ichiyanagi’s tribute to the Japanese koto-song tradition that features texts by the haiku poet Matsuo Bashō.  It’s sure to be an evening of provocative and brilliant contemporary music at Tenri Cultural Institute.

To purchase tickets, please visit Eventbrite.com.

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EXPLORE THE UNIVERSAL CONCEPTS OF CREATIONS & BEGINNINGS WITH “ONOKORO”

ONOKORO – creations/beginnings

Saturday, September 23 and Sunday, September 24 at 7:00 p.m.

Martha Graham Studio One – 55 Bethune Street (between Washington and West Streets), 11th Floor

Admission: $30 | $15 Seniors and Students

Tokyo to New York, in collaboration with Random Access Music, presents the upcoming production of ONOKORO – creations/beginnings. The show is a unique fusion of music and dance that explores the universal themes of creation and beginnings.

The one-hour, non-stop show will feature a captivating blend of contemporary compositions combining traditional Japanese instruments with Western classical instruments, performed by a stellar ensemble of musicians and dancers. The show will include modern dance, traditional Japanese Bugaku dance, a clarinet concerto with Gagaku ensemble, a hichiriki concerto with strings, and trios combining Western classical instruments with traditional Japanese instruments.

To purchase tickets, please visit Tonada Productions’s website.

Inspired by universal creation myths, ONOKORO – creations/beginnings immerses audiences in a flow of music, dance, and ritual that evokes timeless traditions through contemporary artistry. From “Ryoanji” (summoning the beginnings of sounds) to “Netori, Netori” (evoking the beginnings of organized sound and music), through to “Onokoro” (combining the Eastern and Western worlds of music and movement), modern dancer Miki Orihara, clarinetist and hichiriki player Thomas Piercy, Bugaku dancer Maki Yamamae, and their fellow performers will awaken the magic and majesty of the creations and beginnings that connect us all.

Under the artistic direction of Thomas Piercy and the choreography of Miki Orihara, ONOKORO – creations/beginnings features an exceptional lineup of composers, instrumentalists, and dancers. The program includes compositions by renowned composers John Cage, Gilbert Galindo, Masatora Goya, Bin Li, and Miho Sasaki. The performances will showcase the dance and choreography of Martha Graham protégé Orihara and Yamamae, as well as multi-instrumentalist Piercy on clarinet, hichiriki, and ohichiriki.  Joining Orihara, Yamamae and Piercy are dancer Ghislaine van den Heuvel, ryuteki player Lish Lindsey, hichiriki player Joseph Jordan, sho player Harrison Hsu, koto player Masayo Ishigure, violinists Sabina Torosjan and Lara Lewison, violist Laura Thompson, cellist Daniel Hass, bassist Pablo Aslan, and pianist Marina Iwao.

ONOKORO – creations/beginnings is not only a celebration of artistic collaboration which combines the traditional with the contemporary, but it also unites diverse musical genres and dance forms to create a truly immersive experience. This event seamlessly blends and celebrates a harmonious convergence of cultures and is a testament to the diversity of musical expressions and cultures, underscoring the richness of human creativity when artistic worlds collide. It is a celebration of our shared human experience through the lens of dance and music.

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