Works performed by Earplay:

Fuse-VII

Ms. Ushio Torikai has a wide-ranging musical background. She began her education at an early age on violin and piano, followed by studies on traditional Japanese instruments, shamisen and koto. She also holds a B.A. in Economics from Keio University in Tokyo.

Ms. Torikai has received commissions from the Japan National Theater, the Japan Broadcasting Corporation, the City of Los Angeles, the Mabou Mines Theater, the Canadian Electronic Ensemble, Work-in-Progress Berlin, and the Kronos Quartet, among others. Commissioned pieces range from works for concert music and opera to a permanent music installation in a public park. Her compositions vary considerably in instrumentation, ranging from Western to traditional Japanese instruments, computer/electronics to reconstructed ancient Asian instruments, and Western choir to Japanese Buddhist monks' chants. Her music has been performed in many different venues in North America, Japan and internationally, including major cities in Europe and East Asia.

Her newest album, A Un, a seventy-five minute work for forty Japanese Buddhist monks, was released by Japan Victor. Ms. Torikai has lived in New York City since 1986, when she was awarded a fellowship from the Asian Cultural Council, New York City.

The San Francisco performance of Fuse-VII is in association with the Asian Art Museum/Chong-Moon Lee Center for Asian Art and Culture. Additional support for Ms. Torikai comes from Asian Improv aRts. Fuse-VII was funded by Meet the Composer/Arts Endowment Commissioning Music/USA and the Helen F. Whitaker Fund.