Great Performances: Now Hear This Explores the Work and Inspiration of Andy Akiho

• Christina Zeiders
  BioRecent Stories

  

  Christina Zeiders is the Communications Specialist at WITF. She helps get the word out about all of WITF's programs, events and community conversations.

Travel the world with host, violinist and conductor Scott Yoo in Great Performances: Now Hear This, as he shines a spotlight on the background, collaborative process and creative inspiration of Japanese American steel pianist and composer Andy Akiho.

Experience Akiho’s journey as he creates music using the steel drum, found instruments, and more. While we explore New York City neighborhoods – including Brooklyn, Greenwich Village, Chinatown and the Bowery – Akiho shares what inspires his music, from the local record shop to the shores of Trinidad.

We’ll also get a peek at Akiho’s creative process in developing an audio and video collaboration with Sandbox Percussion featuring a group of dancers and a light show.

With an array of performances by Yoo, Akiho and many more, we see there’s nothing stronger than the power of collaboration.

Watch Great Performances: Now Hear This: Andy Akiho Found (his) Sound on WITF TV Friday, April 21 at 9pm, or stream the special on demand for free until May 20 using the PBS or WITF app.

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About your host
Yoo is the Chief Conductor and Artistic Director of the Mexico City Philharmonic and the Music Director of Festival Mozaic, conductor of the Colorado College Music Festival and the Founder of the Medellín Festicámara, a chamber music program that brings together world-class artists with underprivileged young musicians. He has recently conducted the London Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, and led L’Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, Yomiuri Nippon Orchestra, Seoul Philharmonic, Dallas Symphony, San Francisco Symphony, and many others.