Biography
Renowned by the New York Times as "A Master of the Shakuhachi," James Nyoraku Schlefer stands among the foremost interpreters and instructors of the instrument based in New York City. From Ronnie Nyogetsu Seldin he earned the Jun-Shi-Han teaching license in 1991, followed by the Shi-Han Master's Certificate five years later. While in Japan he studied under Aoki Reibo, Yokoyama Katsuya, Yoshio Kurahashi, and Mitsuhashi Kifu. Regular engagements keep Schlefer active throughout New York City and across the United States; as a soloist he has also performed in Japan, Canada, and France. His debut recording, Wind Heart, spent more than a year aboard the Russian Space Station MIR, and selections from his second album, Solstice Spirit, together with additional pieces, aired on NPR’s All Things Considered. He appears as featured soloist in the PBS drama Far East. Venues that have hosted him include Lincoln Center, the Metropolitan Museum, the Brooklyn and Philadelphia Museums, the Knitting Factory, the Juilliard School, and the Manhattan School of Music. Several original compositions for unaccompanied shakuhachi and for shakuhachi ensemble stand among his output; a commissioning grant from the Mary Flagler Cary Trust supported a new work for shakuhachi duo accompanied by dancers. Western flute formed the starting point of Schlefer’s musical path. He earned a master’s degree in music from Queens College and continues to teach courses on music within the CUNY system. ~ Bruno Deschenes
Albums
