July 12
Mitsuki Dazai, Koto Player and Instructor of Oregon Koto-Kai
Mitsuki Dazai is a graduate of Tokyo’s prestigious Kunitachi College of Music, where she studied koto with the world-renowned virtuoso Kazue Sawai, and received her certificate in koto instruction at Sawai Koto Institute. Dazai moved to Oregon in 2002, serving as a guest lecturer at universities in Oregon, as an artistic director of new koto ensemble group, Oregon Koto-Kai (Japanese Koto Society of Oregon), and touring throughout the US, Europe, South America and Japan.
In 2010, Dazai was featured on Oregon Art Beat and released two CDs —Autumn, Music for Solo Koto (2007), and Far Away…Romances for Koto (2010) in collaboration with Grammy nominated composer Michael Hoppe. Her artistry is also featured on the album Shanti Samsara: World Music for Environmental Consciousness, produced by Grammy-winning Composer, Ricky Kej. In 2016, she was invited to 21C Music Festival in Toronto, Canada, and played with Continuum Contemporary Music.
Celeste Reed, Dancer
Celeste Reed is an artist native to Tacoma, Washington. She is a dancer, performer, and teacher. Her earliest years of formal dance are influenced by the YMCA and Tacoma School of the Arts. In 2018, Reed earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Modern Dance from the University of Utah. Reed is passionate about the moving body--its functionality and beauty--and its political position in society. She is also deeply interested in the healing powers of movement. This year you might find her teaching dance to Tacoma youth and making work with her fellow creatives. You might also find her dancing in her yard or at a park or on a sidewalk, just because it feels good to move. You'll never find her eating an orange.