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Composer Andy Akiho continues music journey with Steelpan, Percussion & more

Andy Akiho on steel pan performing with string quartet in Jordan Kuspa's ‘Hit the Spot’ at the Yale University School of Music
Andy Akiho on steel pan performing with string quartet in Jordan Kuspa's ‘Hit the Spot’ at Sprague Memorial Hall, Yale University School of Music

 

Connecticut, USA - New York’s own Andy Akiho, now a graduate student studying for his master’s degree in composition at the prestigious Yale School of Music in New Haven, Connecticut, again took his musical genius as an eclectic composer and proven skill set on the steelpan instrument into another musical ‘cosmos’ last evening.  Akiho continues to challenge the musically acceptable and expected norms for steel pan music performances and collaborations. 

 

In a musical event that was streamed live over the internet, Andy Akiho was highlighted as part of “New Music New Haven” featuring Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Yehudi Wyner, along with five pieces for unconventional chamber ensembles by up-and-coming composers: Akiho with LigNEouS for string quartet and marimba; Jordan Kuspa’s Hit the Spot for steel pan and string quartet; Hannah Lash’s Folksongs for piccolo, harp, and percussion; Adrian Knight’s The Caligari Project for clarinet, viola, cello, accordion, piano, and percussion; and Justin Tierney’s Zephyrus for clarinet, viola, and harp.

Andy Akiho on steel pan performing with string quartet in Jordan Kuspa's ‘Hit the Spot’ at the Yale University School of Music
Andy Akiho on steel pan performing with string quartet in Jordan Kuspa's ‘Hit the Spot’ at Sprague Memorial Hall, Yale University School of Music

 

Akiho’s work was first on display through LigNEouS, his composition for string quartet and marimba [no steel pan], originally commissioned by John and Astrid Baumgardner for the 2010 Norfolk Chamber Music Festival.  It was Andy Akiho’s second appearance on stage, where his music acumen as a steel panist was called upon in Jordan Kuspa’s Hit the Spot.  In part, Kuspa says “In the piece, I have tried to reflect the virtuosity, imagination, and seemingly inexhaustible energy that Andy displays in his music making, and to express the  joy that emanates from every performance he gives.”  Complementing the ensemble for the performance of Hit the Spot was the Linden String Quartet:  Sarah McElravy, violin; Catherine Cosbey, violin; Eric Wong, viola; and Felix Umansky, cello.

Andy Akiho with string quartet in Jordan Kuspa's ‘Hit the Spot’

 

“New Music New Haven” unfolded at the Morse Recital Hall (Sprague Memorial Hall) on the Yale University Campus in New Haven.  In addition to the live audience present, the Yale School of Music-live stream event was viewable online and shared via the WST forum with the steelpan community.  When Steel Talks was also privileged to be at Yale last December when Andy Akiho also joined his contemporaries in showcasing musical aptitudes, and featured as one of four composers premiering their respective music works.

 

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