To kick-off JASM’s 50th Anniversary year, the first big event is our Harukaze concert at Hamline University’s Sundin Music Hall on Sunday, June 12th at 3pm. (Google maps)
This year, we are honored to present three Minnesota artists: Rie Tanaka, pianist; Yuki Tokuda, classic ballet dancer; and Jesse Nummelin, cellist. They will perform a program entitled "Primavera". We are very pleased to have this wonderful performance as the kickoff for our year-long celebration of JASM’s 50th anniversary. Please register today!
A face mask is required in Sundin Music Hall.
$15: Non-member
$10: Member
The ticket is not refundable, but transferable.
Sunday, June 12th 3:00pm-5:00pm
Program:
Jesse Nummelin started Suzuki cello at age three with the Aber Suzuki Center for the Arts in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. He completed a Bachelor of Arts in cello performance at the University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point, studying under Dr. Lawrence Levinton, and then a Masters of Music at Arizona State where he worked as Teaching Assistant to Professor Thomas Landschoot.
He currently serves as the assistant principal cellist of the Des Moines Symphony and has performed with the Phoenix Symphony, Tucson Symphony, South Dakota Symphony, Duluth Superior Symphony, among others.
A passionate chamber musician, he most often performs with his wife and pianist Rie Tanaka as Duo Ihana. He is a founding member of the Stone Arch String Quartet and does studio recording for indie films and upcoming singer/songwriters in the Twin Cities. His versatile musical talent led him to premiere several compositions with string quartet at the Museum of Musical Instruments in Phoenix, AZ, as well as performing on a series of Jazz recordings through the Foulger Institute with acclaimed artists Allison Eldredge and Tom Landschoot.
As an educator, Jesse has served as a faculty of cello at the Aber Suzuki Center for the Arts at the University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point in 2016. Other schools where he used to teach includes; Arizona State University, City of Lakes Waldorf School, the Saint Paul Conservatory, and Music Connection in Forest Lake. He currently teaches private cello lessons at Mount Olivet School of Music.
Native of Osaka, Japan, Dr. Rie Tanaka is a prize winner of international and national competitions in Japan and the U.S. She won the MTNA Young Artist Competition in the West Central Division, Minnesota and Wisconsin, as well as Schubert Club Competition (1st), Chautauqua Piano Competition (Finalist, Commissioned Piece Award), Rosenstock International Piano Competition (Special Judge’s Award). She was featured on Minnesota Public Radio, Wisconsin Public Radio, StarTribune, among other local and regional channels.
Rie often collaborates with her husband and cellist Jesse Nummelin as Duo Ihana. She is a co-founder of “Mirage Performing Arts,” a collaborative group of musicians and ballet dancers. She has performed with members of the Minnesota Orchestra, Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Phoenix Symphony, South Dakota Symphony Orchestra, and many other notable musicians.
Rie has been an advocate for musician’s wellness. As a certified Yoga instructor with an RYT 200, she has led Yoga and lectures at the Rebecca Penney’s Piano Festival, Green Lake Chamber Music Camp, Saint Paul Chamber Music Institute, and Minnesota International Piano Camp. She presented at the Music Teachers Associations in the states of Minnesota, South Dakota, and Washington.
Rie received her MM and DMA in Piano Performance at the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities, studying under Professor Alexander Braginsky, and Bachelor from the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point, studying with Dr. Raffi Besalyan. She currently teaches piano at the Mount Olivet School of Music and Macalester College, and has her private studio in Mound, Minnesota.
Yuki Tokuda is originally from Japan, and was trained under Mikiko Dei, Hideo Fukagawa and Jun Ishii, internationally recognized dancers, teachers and competition judges. She moved to the United States in 2000 to continue her training in New York. Ms. Tokuda has danced professionally with USA Ballet, Peoria Ballet, the Metropolitan Ballet and she was the principal dancer at Continental Ballet for 7 years. With diverse training in classical, contemporary, modern and jazz, she is an international guest dancer and collaborator with many companies. She has an expertise in pointe work, partnering, company etiquette and enjoys teaching aspiring dancers.
Ms. Tokuda trained at the Joffrey Ballet School in New York. At Steps on Broadway as one of the first International Visa Program students. She is also trained with the Boston Ballet and the Connecticut Ballet. She has performed many principal roles of Giselle, Sleeping Beauty, The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, Coppelia, Romeo and Juliet and A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
Ms Tokuda is a faculty at Minnesota Dance Theatre, Interlochen Center for the Arts and a certified STOTT Pilates teacher. She is a recipient of Minnesota State Arts Board and St. Louis Park Arts & Culture Grant. Her choreography was chosen for Choreographer’s Evening at The Walker Arts Center, Wayzata Symphony Orchestra, Wooddale Church, Japan America Society of Minnesota and Saint Paul Conservatory for Performing Artists. She is the designer and owner of Yukitard, a custom leotard company.
This event is sponsored by
Noriko Ishida
Makoto Ishii
Ben and Chris van Lierop (in honor of Evan & Diane Williams)
jasm@mn-japan.org
P.O. Box 26639
Minneapolis, MN 55426
