Bamboo Flute Master Performance at Tea House Opening

Masayuki Koga, shakuhachi (bamboo flute) master, will perform at the opening of the in Piedmont Park on Sept. 28, 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. 

As a youth, Koga studied Kinko shakuhachi with his father, Master Kiichi Koga. At Meiji University in Tokyo, while becoming the youngest member of the award-winning Ensemble Nipponia, Koga received a master’s degree in law. His performances and recordings with the Nipponia orchestra achieved the highest awards from the Ministry of Education of Japan. In 1973, he moved to the United States to introduce and expand the popularity of shakuhachi music and in 1981, he established the Japanese Music Institute of America. Koga has taught and lectured at many SF Bay Area institutions including UC Berkeley and Stanford University as well as the Naropa Institute in Colorado, New York University and  the University of Hawaii to name a few. The California Arts Council honored Master Koga in 2001 with an award for his contributions, leadership and sacrifice for the benefit of our youth. In 2008 and 2010, Koga was invited to the World Music Festival in Cuba. Today, he continues to write, record, perform and teach shakuhachi music.

Sake for the opening festivities has been generously donated by Takara Sake.

The complete Tea House renovation was made possible by donations to the Piedmont Beautification Foundation. For more information about the history of the Tea House, please visit www.piedmontbeautificationfoundation.org.