The Pocahontas County Opera House welcomes composer, songwriter and guitarist Hiroya Tsukamoto to its stage Friday, April 1, at 7:30 p.m.
Hiroya Tsukamoto is a one of a kind composer, guitarist and singer-songwriter from Kyoto, Japan. He began playing the five-string banjo when he was13, and took up the guitar shortly thereafter.
In 1994, Tsukamoto entered The Osaka University and while at college in Japan, Tsukamoto was introduced to a musical and social movement in South America called Nueva Cancion, headed by musical legends such as Victor Jara and Violeta Parra.
In 2000, Tsukamoto received a scholarship to Berklee College of Music and came to the United States. In 2004, Tsukamoto completed his debut album “The Other Side of the World” with his band INTEROCEANICO. His composition “El Otro Lado del Mundo” was nominated as the finalist of The USA Songwriting Competition 2004, as was “Samba de Siempre” in 2005.
In 2006, his original “Seventh Night” was the finalist of International Acoustic Music Award competition. Tsukamoto released his second album entitled “Confluencia” in 2006 and the third album “Where the River Shines” in 2008.
Tsukamoto has been leading concerts with INTEROCEANICO including several appearances at Blue Note in New York. He has also performed with Esperanza Spalding, Marta Gomez, Kendrick Scott (The Crusadors), Pete Kennedy (The Kennedys) and Dave Maxwell (Muddy Waters Band).
Tsukamoto’s most recent album is “Heartland” which was released in August 2012 from 333discs. In October 2012, Tsukamoto was featured during four days of live performances on Japan Public TV (NHK) program “El Mundo.”
Tickets for the April 1 performance are $10 for adults. Youth 17 and younger are admitted free of charge. Tickets are available at the door and in advance at pocahontasoperahouse.org or at the 4th Avenue Gallery in Marlinton.
Performances at the Opera House are informal, family-friendly and open to all. The entrance and main seating are accessible to persons with disabilities. Persons with disabilities are encouraged to attend; special accommodations can be arranged upon request by calling 304-799-6645.
The Opera House Performance Series is presented with financial assistance through a grant from the West Virginia Division of Culture and History and the National Endowment for the Arts, with approval from the West Virginia Commission on the Arts. Support is also provided by Pocahontas County Dramas, Fairs and Festivals and the Pocahontas County Convention and Visitors Bureau. West Virginia Dance Company is also presented with support from The Snowshoe Foundation.
