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"I was sad to say goodbye to Yoko. She gave an hauntingly beautiful performance of Dan no Ura from the Tale of Heike in addition to other sections. The students were in awe of her performance, illustrated by the number of fans that stayed after to chat and take photos. Considering it was a Tuesday evening, we had a magnificent turnout, many of whom had heard Yoko when she visited campus last spring and were dutifully taking notes and writing down their impressions. All in all, it was a magical evening. Visits like Yoko's do such much to enhance the educational experiences of our students and contribute to our Vision 2020 imperative of internationalization. In addition, her visits encourage collaboration between departments and bring together a unique cross-section of interested listeners (i.e. audience members were from the music community, theater community, Asian studies community, and Japanese community)." | ||
"She wowed everyone!! It was pretty amazing indeed. Hiraoka-san is such a thoughtful, gracious person and an unbelievable performer." | ||||||||||||
"We thoroughly enjoyed and appreciated Ms. Hiraoka's superb lecture/performance and class visits. My students told me how impressed and touched they were by her music." | "Ms.Yoko Hiraoka performed beautifully and brought the stories from the Tales of Heike that we were reading in class to life with excitement and elegance. She held the audience in suspense at one moment, and charmed them in the next. She brought us real insight into the pleasures of biwa music." | |||||||||||

2008
February 7-8 | Texas A & M | Sankyoku Residency and concert |
February 20 | Yale University, Newhaven | Biwa lecture/recital |
March 5 | University of Florida, Gainesville | Biwa lecture/recital |
March 14-16 | Louisville, CO | Sankyoku teaching Intensive |
March 19 | Consulate General of Japan | Concert with David Wheeler (shakuhachi) |
March 22-April 8 | Kyoto, Japan | Biwa concert with Kõka Suga |
April 22-April 24 | Bowling Green State University | Biwa lecture/recital/residency |
April 30 | Furman University, SC | Biwa lecture/recital |
September 27 | Kansas City Japan Festival | with David Wheeler, shakuhachi |
September 28 | Altanta JapanFest 2008, GA | Biwa Recital-Tale of Genji |
September 30 | Emory University, Atlanta | Biwa lecture/recital |
October 1 | University of Georgia | Biwa lecture/recital |
October 9-13 | Loveland Colorado | Shakuhachi Autumn Camp of the Rockies |
October 20-23 | Duke University, NC | Biwa residency-concerts and lectures |
November 4 | Rutgers University, NJ | Biwa lecture/recital |
November 6 | Princeton University, NJ | Biwa lecture/recital |
November 17-19 | Texas A and M University | Biwa residency-concerts and lectures |
December 4 | University of Colorado, Boulder | Biwa lecture/recital |
In a formal concert setting Yoko Hiraoka presents the very finest Japanese traditional and modern music. Her stage presence is elegant and powerful. The music, colorful and evocative. The full range of the instruments -- Biwa, Koto, Shamisen and Jiuta Voice is demonstrated in music ranging from Edo-period classical pieces to recent Japanese compositions. Ms. Hiraoka also offers ensemble music with one of the world's great Shakuhachi players. For more information about Yoko Hiraoka's performances please contact David Sawyer at: david@japanshakuhachi.com





2009
Feb 27-March 1 | Louisville, Colorado | Sankyoku teaching Intensive with David Wheeler (shakuhachi) |
March 5 | Metro State College, Denver | Concert with David Wheeler (shakuhachi) |
March 7 | University of Colorado, Boulder | Asia Day-Biwa recital |
April 19 | Japan Festival-CU | Ensemble |
April 22 | Bowdoin College, Maine | Biwa lecture/recital |
April 23-24 | Colby College, Maine | Biwa lecture/recital |
June 25-29 | Loveland, Colorado | Shakuhachi Summer Camp-Master's Concert |
September 19 | Kansas City Japan Festival | Concerts and workshops with David Wheeler (shakuhachi) |
October 5-13 | New York City | Teaching workshops for shakuhachi players |
October 9 | Wesleyan University | Concert with Ralph Samuelson (shakuhachi) |
October 8 | Columbia University | Concert with Ralph Samuelson (shakuhachi) |
November 14 | Denver, Colorado | Koto duet concert. Children's benefit |
2010
Feb 3-4 | University of Chicago | Biwa lecture/recital |
Feb 9-10 | University of California-Berkeley | Biwa lecture/recital |
Feb 11 | Uribe studios Backstreet Gallery, Santa Rosa CA | With Elliot Kallen-shakuhachi |
Feb 23 | Naropa University, Boulder, CO | with Yodo Kurahashi II-shakuhachi |
March 12-14 | Sankyoku workshop-Colorado | with David Wheeler-shakuhachi |
March 18 | Haverford College, PA | Biwa lecture/recital |
April 18 | University of Colorado | Japan Day concert |
May 1 | Colorado State University | Japan Day concert |
May 18-24 | New York City | Concerts and workshops with Ralph Samuelson, shakuhachi flute |
June 5 | Boulder Theatre, Boulder CO | Taiko Summit Concert |
June 24-28 | Shakuhachi Summer Camp | Concerts, workshops |
October 2 | Kansas City Japan Festival | Concerts and workshops |
October 17 | University of Colorado, Boulder | in concert with Yodo Kurahashi II |
October 23 | S. Colorado Japan/America Soc. | Festival concert appearance |
November 10 | University of Florida | Biwa lecture/recital |
December 11 | Asian Art Museum, San Francisco | Biwa lecture/recital |