World-renowned flutist Camilla Hoitenga performs at Ashinaga Kokoro-juku,
in collaboration with the U.S. Embassy in Japan

American flutist Camilla Hoitenga, an internationally acclaimed musician, performed a Christmas concert on Dec. 10, 2009, for residents of the Ashinaga Kokoro-juku student dormitory. The performance came about as a result of a gracious proposal by the U.S. Embassy, after Ashinaga President Yoshiomi Tamai was invited by the White House to attend U.S. President Barack Obama's November speech in Tokyo.

Dr. Hoitenga is very fond of Japan, and has performed here more than 20 times since she first became acquainted with the shakuhachi while studying abroad in Germany. At Kokoro-juku, she included traditional Japanese pieces such as ¡ÈTsuru no sugomori,¡É and the performance climaxed with a group chorus of ¡ÈWe Wish You a Merry Christmas,¡É helping the audience get into an appropriately festive mood.

After the performance, Dr. Hoitenga took some time to talk with students living at the facility, and reflected on her life so far. She had strong words of encouragement for the orphans, telling them, ¡ÈThere were many things that I was only able to learn as a result of following a winding road. I hope you will not be too quick to declare success or failure, and will continue to try new things.¡É It is hoped that this performance will instill greater interest in classical music and the arts among Kokorojuku students, and will help them grow both intellectually and emotionally.