gallery 4 BSVA Japan Tour

Birmingham Suzuki Violinists in Japan!

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Gratitude for an invitation from Terri Goulard Henningson, Birmingham Suzuki Violinists traveled to Japan to participate
in the 1998 National Suzuki Concert, at the Budokan Hall in Tokyo. While there, we also visited Matsumoto, Kyoto, Nara, Nagano
and Hitachi. The photo on the right shows Birmingham Suzuki students standing under the replica of the Vulcan statue in Hitachi,
Birmingham's Sister City. At top left is a Buddhist prayer temple in Tokyo, one of many that we saw while traveling around Japan.

Our first stop is Nagano, site of the 1998 Olympics. We meet Master Teacher, Mr. Denda and his faculty. We meet our host family.

Our host shares sticky buns with Avery between rehearsals. Posing in front of Palace Gate before getting casual home-stay kimonos!

Mr. Denda and LaDonna come on stage together. Birmingham Suzuki Violinists present "Youth" at Nagano Spring String Festival.

The Talent Education Institute in Matsumoto. The Henningsons & Birmingham Suzuki Violinist Tour Group in front of Dr. Shinichi Suzuki's home.

Everyday we would write the folks at home, and communicate by posting our travel stories on the Alabama Public Television's Suzuki website!

Above: Avery Otto, Director of The People Place, official Sponsor for the BSVA tour, dances and plays, enjoys and enjoys green tea ice-cream.
Student stands before a grand palace. LaDonna barely makes it through the nostril of the Buddha. Market scene in front of a Tokyo temple.

Finally, we are going to participate in the 44th Suzuki Method Grand Concert. Our group poses in front of Budokan Hall, Tokyo.

We pose inside the huge hall as thousands of students from all over Japan join the 44th Grand Concert. Birmingham Suzuki Violinists join the group.

Here we are in Budokan Hall, honoring Shinichi Suzuki, founder of the Suzuki Method. LaDonna Smith and students pose with Dr. Masaaki Honda.

BSVA President Keith Ingram and happy parents. On the bus, LaDonna congratulates students. Now, it's time to cook our own traditional Japanese meal!

On our last day, we travel to Birmingham's Sister City, Hitachi where we will play our final Concert. Here we see our first glimpses of the city by the sea.

Hitachi welcomes Birmingham Suzuki Violinists ceremony. At the Concert, the Mayor is presented with LaDonna's composition,"Youth".

First the Hitachi Youth Choir, then the Hitachi Youth Orchestra, then Birmingham Suzuki Violinists perform. Susannah Herring sings "Youth".

              Birmingham Suzuki Violinists pose at end of the day, in front of Hitachi's Vulcan, symbol of our Sister Cities.
                      We would like to thank Terri Goulard Henningson, The People Place, and all those who made our trip possible.

MORE PHOTOS:

Gallery 1 Reception for Hilary Hahn, snapshots, concerts, BIF Japan programs

         Gallery 2   Workshop with Ronda Cole and Nicolas Kendall 2004
                         Jasper students, snapshots, Korean Festival of Arts

         Gallery 3   Mexican Tour Group, Birmingham International Festival 2005

         Gallery 4   Birmingham Suzuki Violinists go to Japan 1998
                                            Tokyo, Nagano, Hitachi....

Gallery 5 "Youth" composition by LaDonna Smith, BSVA Japan Tour Project

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