Salisbury Symphony Orchestra Performs 'East Meets West' Concert May 12

SALISBURY, MD---Guest shakuhachi (end-blown Japanese flute) player Christopher Yohmei Blasdel joins the Salisbury Symphony Orchestra at Salisbury University (SSO) for its annual Spring Concert, “East Meets West,” 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 12, in Holloway Hall Auditorium.

The concert is the culminating performance in SU’s annual Spring Music Festival.

Directed by Dr. Jeffrey Schoyen, selections include Joseph Swenson’s Shizue, Fantasy for Shakuhachi and String Orchestra, Tan Dun’s “Symphonic Poem of Three Notes,” Claude Debussy’s Trois Nocturnes and Carl Maria von Weber’s Turandot, incidental music, J. 75 (Op. 37).

Also featured are two video game-based compositions: Hirokazu Ando’s “Kirby”’s 20th Anniversary Medley and Koji Kondo’s “The Legend of Zelda” 25th Anniversary Medley, both arranged by Andrés Soto.

Blasdel began his study of the shakuhachi with Goro Yamaguchi, who was named one of Japan’s National Living Treasures, in 1972, earning his M.F.A. in ethnomusicology from the Tokyo University of Fine Arts in 1984. Yamaguchi gave him his professional name, “Yohmei.”

Maintaining a balance between traditional shakuhachi music, modern compositions, and cross-genre work with musicians, dancers, poets and visual artists, Blasdel has performed and taught worldwide. He is the author of two major books on shakuhachi and has helped organize shakuhachi festivals on three continents. He also holds a fourth-degree black belt in aikido.

Concert admission is $25, $20 for seniors age 60 and older, $10 for SU faculty and staff, and $5 for students and children 18 and under. Advance tickets are available online at www.SalisburySymphonyOrchestra.org and at the Guerrieri Student Union Information Desk.

In addition, Blasdel provides a shakuhachi demonstration and talk, “The Exotic East: A Glimpse of Japan Through its Traditional Flute Music,” 5:30 p.m. Thursday, May 10, in the Great Hall of Holloway Hall. Admission is free and the public is invited.

For information call 410-543-8366 or visit the SSO website.