A once in a lifetime opportunity to listen to the personal stories of Brenda Wong Aoki,  Steve Nakajo and Eddie Wong, artists, activists, and community organizers who, since the 1970's, have fought to protect and sustain Asian American and BIPOC communities in San Francisco, Los Angeles and beyond.  What inspired them to dedicate their lives to this work? Hear first hand the childhood experiences that shaped them and the events that impacted their lives through the '70's, '80's and '90's. Audience members will have the opportunity to contribute their own personal experiences. Hard earned wisdom from everyone present will be shared, understood, and remembered - rippling out into the future.

Masks are highly encouraged and recommended  to protect our at-risk populations. Please stay home if you are showing any symptoms of being sick. Snacks and water will be available for consumption both outside and indoors.

JUNE 3 2023

4:30-6pm PDT

Konko Church, SF

909 Bush St, San Francisco, CA 94115

(Basement level on Laguna St.)

Doors open at 4pm for light refreshments

JUNE 17 2023

7pm PDT

ODC Dance Commons, Studio B

351 Shotwell St. San Francisco, CA 94110

Join us in experiencing the music of jazz composer Masaru Koga & Friends followed by dancer Emma Lanier with her father on vinyl!

WORKS PRESENTED:

Hanabi an open and intimate musical set by New York-based saxophonist and shakuhachi artist Masaru Koga featuring Kenneth Nash on percussion and John-Carlos Perea on electric bass and cedar flute, inspired by the interconnection between all beings.

EZ Sand (a dance with my dad about clay) is a dance about clay by Emma Lanier and her dad, ceramic artist Paul Lanier. This will be his first time on the big stage. EZ Sand studies daily rituals and materials of their respective art practices and artmaking in family. 

New York City based wind instrumentalist Masaru Koga is a long time friend of First Voice who has also worked with luminaries such as Akira Tana, Anthony Brown, Wayne Wallace, Kenny Endo, Kat Parra, and the late Fred Ho, as well as his mentors Hafez Modirzadeh and royal hartigan. He has toured domestically and internationally, most notably as a member of Otonowa (www.otonowa- usa.com), visiting Japan yearly (prior to the pandemic) to support the communities affected by the 2011 Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami, and the 2016 Kumamoto Earthquake. As a Shin-Issei who grew up as a Third Culture Kid, his music encompasses the many cultural traditions that he has been touched by, and the worldview developed though diverse life experiences. His first recorded album as a band leader titled “Flower Fire” was released in 2018. www.maskoga.com

Emma Lanier is a dance artist from San Francisco who works with movement, objects, and sound. She studied at the Conservatorio Superior de Danza in Madrid and at Skidmore College in New York, where she was the recipient of the 2016 Margaret Paulding Award for outstanding performance, choreography, and research in critical dance studies. She has presented her work nationally at Pulitzer Arts Foundation (St. Louis, MO,) David Zwirner Gallery (New York, NY,) and locally at San Francisco Symphony's SoundBox, Fresh Festival, James Graham Dance Theatre's Dance Lovers, San Francisco Dance Film Festival, ODC Pilot71, Catharine Clark Gallery, and Sonoma Ceramics. As a performer, she has recently danced for Jennifer Perfilio Movement Works, Rachael Cleveland, and KT Nelson. @emmalanier

Paul Lanier is a ceramic artist and sculptor who lives and works in San Francisco. He studied extensively with Bauhaus master artist Marguerite Wildenhain at Pond Farm.Paul has 40 years of experience working with designers and architects on public and private interior and exterior pieces. The youngest of the Asawa/Lanier children, Paul assisted his mother on many of her large scale public art projects. He is a passionate advocate of excellence in arts education and of public education. @shigarocky

In an intimate gathering of only 10 audience members, the first Moment will center around a new work-in-progress dance piece about memories, "Yellow Ribbon," by emerging choreographer Ayana Yonesaka. Other performances feature a song by Marissa Katarina Bergmann, contra bass solo by Maestro Mark Izu and hosted by Brenda Wong Aoki, and a New Year's gift from Ayana's father in Hokkaido, Japan.

THE YELLOW RIBBON

C R E D I T S

Choreographer: Ayana Yonesaka

Soloist: Cathleen McCarthy

Choir: Becky Kalinowski, Tiffany Tonel, Leesha Zieber, Amanda Ferrer

Composer: Jesse Ruiz 

OTHER PERFORMANCES

Vocalist: Marissa Katarina Bergmann

Contra Bass: Mark Izu

Hanabi

An intimate concert with world class musicians, led by shakuhachi/saxophone artist Masaru Koga, joined by longtime collaborators John-Carlos Perrea and Jimmy Biala.  Hanabi, the Japanese word for fireworks, was chosen to represent the ephemeralness of life. The aim of this performance is to capture a beautiful moment as it appears and disappears.

A rehearsal from Solate at our First Voice Studio. Solate is an independent folk music quartet made up of multi-racial (hapa or mestizo) next generation artists.