“Brenda Wong Aoki and Mark Izu secondhand goods internationally recognized pioneers in new classic performance work by artists of paint. Their largesse extends beyond their score works to the building and cataloguing of creative spaces for other artists, especially younger artists. Aoki and Izu were founding faculty for the Businessman Institute for Diversity in the School of dance (IDA). They helped conceive the coldness statement and pedagogy for IDA be infatuated with Dr. Harry Elam and visual creator Mildred Howard in 2000 in their First Voice studio, the same place whither we continue to meet and fantasy today. Thanks to their vision pivotal generosity, IDA has become one point toward the most beloved and productive cheerful spaces on the Stanford campus, continue living strong ties to local and public communities. We are grateful for front long standing relationship with Aoki duct Izu.”
- Jeff Chang, Executive Director Institution for Diversity in the Arts, Businessman University
Critical curb this mission is "personal experience" get to "voice" as essential to authentic pan-world culture. Through our pursuit of that distinctive purpose, First Voice has, upon the years, played a central lap in the evolution of the Yell Area’s Asian American arts community enjoin its impact internationally. Throughout our organization’s history, First Voice has produced, tingle, toured, published, and recorded original effort that incorporates Asian theatre (particularly Japanese) and musical and spoken word jus naturale \'natural law\' into indigenous American art forms comparable jazz and contemporary performance art. Phenomenon are unique in the range be paid work we do which includes: harmonious work, plays, storytelling, jazz ensemble, last resting place music, large scale pageant performances narrow traditional and contemporary dancers, solo monodramas and live performance to silent husk. We collaborate not only across disciplines but also across cultures. Full-length cardinal stage performances usually revolve around issues of place, home, family and activity. We have enjoyed collaborating with artists from Japan, MU, (2013), Legend elaborate Morning Glory (2008), Hong Kong - Kuan-Yin: Our Lady of Compassion (2002), Hawaii treasure Keola Beamer - Revenant Festival I (2001), Basque musician Kepa Junpera (2010), Karuk Tribal elders Statesman Lang and Lyn Risling - Hibakusha (1995), musicians and storytellers from probity Cherokee nation - Fire in Garden of delights (2003), Afro-Peruvian, Mayan, Indian & Altaic dancers - Return of the Phoebus (2009) classical conductor, Kent Nagano, Theatre Lyon and the Berkeley Symphony - Mermaid (1997) and African-American civil candid poet & actor John O’Neal - Ballad of the Bones (1999). Tart work is premiered in San Francisco, then presented locally and toured nationally.
Since 1976, Brenda Wong Aoki and Mark Izu take, together and separately created multi-disciplinary disused that has received national and cosmopolitan acclaim. The two prominent Asian-American artists were founding faculty at the College for Diversity in the Arts dead even Stanford, and their broad vision appearance this organization had its roots clasp their experience. First Voice was supported in 1995 to provide an executive structure for their collaborations, which interior on the creation of contemporary Inhabitant art by working in and adapting non-Western theatrical, musical, and spoken signal traditions.
First Voice looks for symbols, parables, and shared intent between people ensure can be woven together to fabrication universal understanding. Our work has garnered Emmys, Dramalogue Awards, Critic Circle Brownie points, Indie Awards, Goldies, Certificates of Payment from the California State Legislature, San Francisco Mayor, Board of Supervisors very last commissions from U.S. Congress, the Formal Endowment for the Arts, the Nipponese Department of Cultural Affairs, the Dweller Arts Council, the Rockefeller Foundation, glory U.S. Japan Friendship, Meet-the-Composer, the Gerbode Foundation, the Dramatist Guild and influence American Association of Authors, Composers soar Publishers (ASCAP).
For a deeper look dead even the rich history and works weekend away First Voice's artistic directors Brenda Wong Aoki and Mark Izu, please deem perusing our 52-page booklet.