Mujitsu and Tairaku's Shakuhachi BBQ

Greetings.

Plans for the World Shakuhachi Festival 2008 are continuing unabated. Here are some of the latest developments. THESE ARE TENTATIVE PLANS! Though much of what is written below is subject to change, the following will give you an idea of what to expect.

DATES:
4-8 July 2008

VENUES in SYDNEY AUSTRALIA:
Sydney Conservatorium of Music (see below for details of venues)
City Recital Hall at Angel Place (capacity 1200, two evening concerts)
Sydney Opera House Studio (capacity 300, one evening concert, TBC)

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE;
4 July - registration in afternoon, special TaikOz concert from 8pm at Angel Place, featuring taiko and shakuhachi
5-8 July - concerts, workshops, etc., 10am - 6.30pm at Sydney Conservatorium of Music (SCM)

SPECIAL EVENTS
5-6 July - evening concerts at Verbrugghan Hall and (TBC) SOH Studio Space
6 July 3.15pm Composition Competition Concert, Verbrugghan Hall (see below)
7 July - 8pm Main WSF08 Public Concert at City Recital Hall at Angel Place
7 July after main concert - reception, location TBC
8 July - 8pm Farewell Banquet, location TBC

The following SCM venues and facilities (with seating capacity) will be available during the Festival. All of these venues are in the same building. Walking distances between them vary from 20 seconds to 2 minutes.

CONCERT VENUES AT SYDNEY CONSERVATORIUM OF MUSIC:
Verbrugghen Hall - 497
Music Workshop - 218
Recital Hall West - 130
Recital Hall East - 130
Choral Assembly Hall - 217
Seminar Room 2174 - 50 (for lectures, small workshops, etc.)

OTHER VENUES AT SCM:
Atrium - reception area, Festival Store, etc.
Practice rooms x20 (for private lessons and individual rehearsals)
Ensemble rooms x6 (for ensemble rehearsals)
Link to SCM website: http://www.music.usyd.edu.au/talent_fac … nues.shtml

With six venues available to us under one roof, the Festival will be able to schedule, if needed, over 70 events over four days. Consequently, though nothing can be promised until the final schedules are made, it seems quite possible to accommodate nearly everyone who would like to perform at least one piece during the Festival.

In other words, the Festival will try to guarantee a spot on at least one concert for anyone who has a piece to play, including a number of low pressure, performer friendly 'open mic' concerts. As there may be up to five venues being used concurrently, a sizable audience can't be guaranteed.

LETTERS OF INTENT, INVITATION, RECOMMENDATION, ETC
One of the ramifications of the above is that it is now possible for WSF08 to provide letters of intent, invitations, and recommendations for most people requesting these to be used in funding applications, subject to approval by the WSF08 organising committee. Official WSF08 letterheads, with new WSF08 logo is ready for use. Please send all requests for such letters to riley@rileylee.net. Requests for multiple applications will be accepted.

In your requests, please be concise, but as complete as possible, including everything you need us to say to maximise your chances of being funded, how to address the letter/s, where to send the letter/s, and what format is necessary (eg, email or printed letter). You might like to draft the letter for us, which we may rewrite in our own words. WSF08 will, as soon as possible, either send you an official letter for your application, or will let you know if there is any problem in doing so.

We realise that deadlines for these applications are in many cases imminent, and will endeavour to provide you with these letters asap.

CITY RECITAL HALL VS SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE MAIN CONCERT HALL
The City Recital Hall has been chosen for the main Public Concert, as well as the special WSF08 TaikOz concert for the following reasons: CRH has agreed to co-sponsor the events, thereby reducing the FESTIVAL's financial liability from over A$50,000 to a maximum of A$3000. CRH is available during the FESTIVAL week; SOH might not have been. CRH, with a capacity of 1200 is much more suited to shakuhachi concerts than SOH (capacity of 2500+). Finally, and in many ways most importantly, CRH acoustics are fantastic, especially for shakuhachi, while SOH main hall acoustics are compromised and are particularly problematic for the shakuhachi.
Link to City Recital Hall website: www.cityrecitalhall.com/

The FESTIVAL hopes, however, to schedule one evening concert at the smallest of the five Sydney Opera House venues, the 'Studio' (capacity - about 220). Discussions with the SOH administrative people are in progress.

KOTO/SHAMISEN PARTICIPATION
A number of concerts both featuring and merely including koto and/or shamisen will be scheduled throughout WSF08. A special registration fee for koto and shamisen players will enable performers of these instruments to perform in at least two concerts, to access rehearsal rooms, and to attend all major concerts held in the evenings.

SPECIAL ABSOLUTE BEGINNERS STREAM
The 'Absolute Beginner' or AB stream has been one of the most successful parts of recent Australian Shakuhachi Festivals. Total beginners, some having never held a shakuhachi before or heard one played live will be able to attend workshops especially for beginners, receive individual instruction, borrow or buy instruments and attend all concerts, all for a special AB registration fee.

WORKSHOPS, LECTURES
Workshops on topics such as performing and practice techniques, making and choosing instruments, learning specific pieces, learning different notation systems, etc, will be scheduled throughout the FESTIVAL. The FESTIVAL will also feature a number of special academic and more general lectures presented by specialists from Japan and elsewhere.

SPECIAL RATES FOR SPOUSES, PARTNERS, FRIENDS
A special registration fee for people would would like to come to Sydney during WSF08, but are not necessarily interested in performing or attending the daytime events. This type of registration would include attendance to all evening concerts, and be eligible for any special discounts for airfare and accommodation.

SHAKUHACHI CHAMBER MUSIC COMPOSITION COMPETITION
Andrew MacGregor's suggestion of a WSF08 composition competition has been universally applauded. Though the details of this competition is still in the planning stages, it will entail an open competition for new works for chamber ensemble which must feature  the shakuhachi and other typically European 'art music' instruments, including but possibly not limited to violin, viola, 'cello, piano, voice, etc.

The initial judging would probably be done using the scores of the new works. These works would be performed during the Composition Competition Concert, and judged by a panel possibly made up of a shakuhachi player, professional composer, professional chamber musician, SCM faculty member.

It is hoped that cash prizes totally between A$2500 and A$5000 will be awarded to the finalist/s.

WEBSITE
A website designer has been engaged to create websites in Japanese and English. This will be up and running asap - probably within the next 30-60 days.

AIR TRAVEL AND ACCOMMODATION
The Festival has engaged a travel agent in Australia who specialises in taking care of the needs of touring ensembles, and large groups from Japan and the USA. It is hoped that WSF08 will be able to offer special group airfare and accommodation rates. Airfare and/or accommodation can be booked through the WSF08 travel agent or booked individually. Ample accommodation can be found within walking distance from the SCM venue ranging from five star to backpacker/dormitory style. Registrants may choose to pay only the Festival registration fee.

ESTIMATED COSTS:
Participants will be able to book package deals which will include airfare, accommodation and registration, or pay only registration fees.
There may be a number of types of registrations. Possible types of registrations might include:
Full registration: A$520 (¥50000)
Koto/shamisen registration: A$315 (¥30000)
AB registration: $250 (¥24000)
Spouse/friend registration: A$160 (¥15000)

It is estimated that the typical cost for a participant coming from Japan, including airfare and above average accommodation will be ¥250,000.

PLEASE HELP!!!
Word of mouth (including 'word of internet') is our most important publicity tool!  It is up to all of you to make this event happen, and to make WSF08 a success!! Please forward this and subsequent emails about WSF08 to EVERYONE who might be even vaguely interested.

For further information, please email me.
Sincerely,
Riley Lee


Dr. Riley Lee
PO Box 939
Manly NSW 1655 Australia
0414 626 453
+61 2 9976 6904
fax: +61 2 9976 6905
www.rileylee.net