Bozeman Symphony Presents: Kishi Bashi

Kevin Brustuen


Bozeman Symphony is delighted to present “Kishi Bashi and the Bozeman Symphony” at the Willson Auditorium February 14, 15, and 16. An internationally renowned singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, Kishi Bashi marks his return visit to Bozeman as the featured performer in Bozeman Symphony’s first “Artist-in-Residence” program.

Kishi Bashi burst into the nationa consciousness in 2011 with the introduction of his first album, 151a. Since then, he has produced seven albums and has toured internationally to wide acclaim.

Kishi Bashi gave a lot of thought to his identity when he began work on Omoiyari, his fourth studio album and a feature-length “song-film” of the same name, which he composed and directed. As a person of Japanese-American heritage, he wished to respond to the history and memory surrounding Japanese American incarceration during World War II, especially with an eye toward the present day.

Kishi Bashi’s music is known for the unique way it blends his violin playing with his own singing, along with adding in something called “beatboxing,” which is using one’s vocal chords to imitate percussion and similar sound effects. Kishi Bashi describes his music as “orchestral and somewhat experimental pop.” NPR calls him a “one-man orchestra.” He sings and writes songs in Japanese and English.

Violin was his first instrument and the one he is most comfortable with. He soon added the piano and guitar to his repertoire, and began composing music, often singing along to his music as he played – something rather unusual for violin performers. In performances, Kishi Bashi includes guitar, keyboard, vocal looping, and beatboxing.

The Bozeman Symphony was founded in 1968 as a college community orchestra, uniting Montana State University music faculty and community members into an ensemble in which they could perform the great symphonic classics for the Bozeman public. The organization has been very successful: since 2020, the Bozeman Symphony has grown its subscriber base from 881 to more than 1,300 in just two seasons, and, astoundingly, attained over two-hundred percent growth in ticket income, along with numerous sold-out shows. In the last several years the Symphony has greatly expanded its performance season, offering seven classical concerts and two “Bozeman Presents” concerts. “Kishi Bashi and the Bozeman Symphony” is part of this year’s “Bozeman Presents” series.

Conductor Norman Huynh, Bozeman Symphony Orchestra Music Director, has attracted widespread recognition for his natural musicality and technical command, and especially for his ability to connect to audiences in ways that leave them hungry for more.
“Kishi Bashi and the Bozeman Symphony” concert is a great show for the whole family; in addition to Kishi Bashi’s own music, the symphony is performing Mendelsohn’s “Wedding March” from Midsummer Night’s Dream, Prokofiev’s “Romance” from Lt. Kijé, and Tchaikovsky’s “Romeo and Juliet Overture.”

All performances of “Kishi Bashi and the Bozeman Symphony” are in the Willson Auditorium, with tickets available through the Bozeman Symphony’s website at www.bozemansymphony.org. Performances are on Friday February 14 at 7:30 pm; Saturday February 15 at 7:30 pm; and Sunday February 16 at 2:30 pm. Questions about tickets can be addressed to tickets@bozemansymphony.org, or call 406-585-9774. 

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