FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 24, 2007

Media Contact: Laima Gaigalas, (303) 492-4247
Public Contact: CU Concerts Box Office, (303) 492-8008

Event: The Artist Series presents Yamato at Macky Auditorium
Date: Sunday, October 14, 7:30 p.m.
Location: Macky Auditorium Concert Hall, University of Colorado at Boulder
Pre-concert:       Pre-concert conversation featuring Dr. Jay Keister, Assistant Professor of Ethnomusicology, 6:45 p.m. in Macky Room 102
Sponsors:            First National Bank of Colorado, Daily Camera
Admission: Tickets for the performance are $12 to $52; Seating is very limited and may sell out at any time. Please call for availability.
Box Office: Call 303-492-8008 or visit www.cuconcerts.org
for tickets or more information

YAMATO RETURNS TO ARTIST SERIES WITH
SPECTACULAR JAPANESE DRUMMING AND DANCE

The CU Artist Series presents a performance by Japan’s Yamato in Boulder’s Macky Auditorium Sunday, October 14 at 7:30 p.m. The evening’s program includes selections of traditional Japanese taiko drumming. This is Yamato’s second appearance on the Artist Series; the group’s previous performance took place in October 2003.

Yamato was founded by Masa Ogawa in 1993 in Nara, ‘the land of Yamato,’ which is said to be the birthplace of Japanese culture. Presently based in Asuka Village, Nara Prefecture, they travel all over the world with Japan's traditional Wadaiko drums. Since its formation, Yamato has played to more than a million people, giving over 1500 performances in about a dozen different countries. They continue to travel with several dozen large and small drums (including an odaiko made from a huge tree over 400 years old), displaying the instruments’ versatility and instinctive appeal, both in extemporized street performances and in concert halls holding thousands of people.

A pre-concert conversation with CU-Boulder Professor of Ethnomusicology Jay Keister will be held before the performance at 6:45 p.m. in Macky Room 102. This pre-concert event is free and open to the public.

The Artist Series, now in its 71st season, has a rich tradition of bringing the finest performers in the world to Boulder’s Macky Auditorium. Recent performers on the series have included James Galway, Hilary Hahn, and Bobby McFerrin. In addition to serving audiences with an exciting variety of performances, the Artist Series has an important educational mission, including outreach events planned in conjunction with almost every concert.

Single tickets for this concert are $12 to $52 with discounts for members of the CU community, seniors, youth and groups. Seating is very limited and may sell out at any time. Please call for availability. Call the CU Concerts Box Office at 303-492-8008 or visit www.cuconcerts.org for information or tickets for this performance. Season tickets for the 2007-2008 Artist Series season are also available now.

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