CRESTONE — The Shumei International Institute will celebrate its 16th anniversary Saturday, May 19th and Sunday, May 20th. This year’s anniversary theme is “Seeds of World Citizenship” and all events are free and open to the public.

Saturday, May 19th Shumei hosts a Taiko performance with GRAMMY® award winning Taiko Master Sensei Koji Nakamura performing with local Crestone members of all ages and members of Shumei’s Los Angeles based Makoto Taiko. Following taiko, Shumei is excited to offer a special concert with world premiere performer of the Native American flute R. Carlos Nakai with Will Clipman on pan-global percussion.

The conversation between the flute and the drum began at the dawn of the human experience, and continues to this day in forms that are both ancient and contemporary. For over a quarter-century, Native American flutist R. Carlos Nakai and pan-global percussionist Will Clipman have carried on an intimate dialogue in these primal voices, adding fresh expressions to the universal language of world music. Each of their many recordings, in different musical configurations from duo to trio to quartet to symphony orchestra, offers a unique context for their on-going sonic exploration; yet all are immediately recognizable by virtue of the artists’ unmistakable style, tone and instrumental mastery. This is also true of their incomparable live performances, each of which is a restlessly creative infusion of improvisation.

Channeling a sound that grounds each of us in the center of our being, multiple GRAMMY® Nominees and Native American Music Award Winners R. Carlos Nakai and Will Clipman delve into a primal sonic odyssey as they guide the listener to a place where all cultures flow and merge into the river of human experience. The intimate dialogue between the ancient call of Native American cedar flute and the subtle vibration of African, Native American, Polynesian and Asian rhythms connects us to our innermost essence and finely tunes the naturally awakening energies inside each of us, nourishing inner balance and harmony.

The concert on Saturday will be followed by a special World Peace Prayer Sampai service. During this special Sampai for World Peace thousands of friends and members from Shumei centers in Japan and around the world join hearts and minds with us in Crestone in simultaneously chanting and sharing of Jyorei with a shared intention for peace on earth.

The 16th anniversary continues on Sunday May 20th when Shumei hosts an Anniversary Sampai officiated by Sensei Tamao Koyama joining us from Shumei’s headquarters in Japan. There will be a public luncheon, art exhibition, garden tours open and a presentation after lunch with Ken Green of the Hudson Valley Seed company. A tireless advocate for seed sovereignty Ken also celebrates the roll of art in our agricultural and horticultural heritage. 

For more information visit Shumei International Institute at www.shumeicrestone.org or call 719-256-5284.

Caption: Shumei welcomes R. Carlos Nakai and Will Clipman to help celebrate 16 years in Crestone. Courtesy photo.