The European Shakuhachi Society

Category: News

  • Summer School in Dublin, 20–23 July 2023S

    Summer School in Dublin, 20–23 July 2023S

    Almost unbelievably the last time where we all could meet face to face to play and learn shakuhachi together was in 2019 in Lisbon. Although we had a continous virtual gatherings through our Zoom programme, we still missed sharing the same location and all that social mingling these ESS events bring along with them.

    Now thanks to Philip Horan and his team in Ireland, who, after the 2020 Covid induced cancellation and the huge disappointment to be stopped in mid-organisation, still managed to put together a fantastic programme for this year’s summer school at an amazing location:

    Dates: Thursday 20 July to Sunday 23 July 2023
    Venue: Irish Institute of Music and Song, Balbriggan, County Dublin
    Information & registration: dublin2023.shakuhachisociety.eu

  • ESS Discount to New Members!

    Are you a shakuhachi player, student, composer, or enthusiast based in Europe or with an interest to find out what is happening in the European scene?

    Come and join us now – only €10 for the first year!

    We are offering a special rates for any new member subscription until 31 December 2023!

    What’s that?
    The ESS is a membership-based charity. We have over 150 members from all around Europe and beyond, and we want to grow this community even more.

    We are offering a 50% discount for the first year of membership for any people who become new members before 31 December 2023. If you are just starting out on your shakuhachi journey, or if you have been playing for a while and are not sure if being an ESS member is for you, then join us for this reduced price and get a flavour of all the benefits of being a member!

    The normal price for an annual ESS membership is €20 and the discounted price is €10. For this price you get discounts are any events organised by the ESS, can participate in ESS events (e.g. winter concert) or help with organising activities if you have a particular interest, and get discounts on online shakuhachi shops.

    NOTE: Due to restrictions with paypal, you would need to pay the full €20 and you will receive a refund for €10 – if you have any questions are are not sure if being an ESS member is for you, get in touch!

  • Summer School Announcement

    Following the postponement of the planned World Shakuhachi Festival (WSF) in Prague 2016, with the intention of holding it instead in 2017 at a different location, the European Shakuhachi Society (ESS) advises that it is hoping to hold the following events: 


    1. A European Shakuhachi Summer School in 2016. Negotiations are currently underway for a suitable venue. This event, currently planned for July 2016, will celebrate the 10th anniversary of the creation of the European Shakuhachi Society, and will gather not only many of the top shakuhachi teachers in Europe, but will also include international guests from Japan. The ESS Committee is currently in communication with potential invitees.
    2. A World Shakuhachi Festival, to be organised collaboratively by ESS and Kokusai Shakuhachi Kenshukan (KSK), to be held in 2017.
    It is hoped that this event will pick up the threads of the postponed WSF2016, and we hope to welcome to this Festival the guests from Japan and elsewhere who were invited to WSF2016. Negotiations are underway for a venue and dates for WSF2017. We will advise you of progress in planning these events, and hope to be able to provide more details very soon.
    Yours sincerely,
    The 
ESS Committee and Advisors

  • New Committee Members And Advisers

    We welcome our new committee members: Nigel Puttergill takes on the role of Treasurer and our new publication team José Vargas & Philip Horan!
    Many thanks to the outgoing committee members – Joe Browning, Michael Soumei Coxall and Horacio Curti.

    Also we enriched our advisers group with new arrivals – Emmanuelle Rouaud, Markus Guhe and Christophe Gaston are now part of our Circle of Advisers.
    We are looking forward to work with you all and moving the ESS forward into the next decade.

    You can see the full list of committee members and advisers on the about-the-ESS/ESS-structure page

  • The ESS Circle Of Advisers Was Further Enriched By 2 New Members

    We welcome Ruud Baanders and James Long!

  • Le Shakuhachi Japonais, Une Tradition Réinventée

    A new book about the shakuhachi has been published by Bruno Chikushin Deschênes.
    The book is published by Éditions L’Harmattan, Paris 2017. French language.
    How to order and more information can be found at:
    http://www.editions-harmattan.fr
    You can find a summary/press release in English here (PDF)

  • Ronnie Nyogetsu Reishin Seldin

    The ESS is saddened to report that Ronnie Nyogetsu Reishin Seldin has passed away yesterday 30th May 2017. He suffered a heart attack.
    Ronnie’s contribution to the shakuhachi world outside Japan was immense. Many great players studied with him. The shakuhachi community outside Japan would not have been what it is today without Ronnie’s hard work and dedication. He was a very kind, supportive and helpful person. He will be greatly missed

    .

  • World Shakuhachi Festival Is Coming To London, UK! 1- 4 August 2018 !

    WSF 2018 London Dates announced
    We are pleased to announce the dates for the World Shakuhachi Festival 2018 in London.

    The primary organisers are the European Shakuhachi Society (ESS) and the Kokusai Shakuhachi Kenshūkan (KSK).

    The Festival will be hosted by the world-renowned Goldsmiths University of London in partnership with the Music Department at Goldsmiths.

    The WSF2018 will be preceded by a Symposium at SOAS University of London on 30 July organised in partnership with the Music Department
    and the Japan Research Centre (JRC) at SOAS.

    Please follow the WSF2018 on Facebook: www.facebook.com/worldshakuhachifestival2018
    or visit our website www.wsf2018.com

    More information about WSF2018 in London will be released in due course, please stay tuned!

    The WSF2018 team

  • Hello To The ESS Membership Area

    The new ESS Members Area at members.shakuhachisociety.eu is now ready for our members. The members area consists of exclusive online resources like e.g. concert recordings of past Summer Schools and events, previous Summer School notations and the ESS Newsletter back-issues and is open to all our members. It is a great resource already and will grow in the future as more materials become available. Enjoy!

    To learn more about ESS membership options and the subscription process, please visit our membership page

  • Sad News!

    It is with the deepest regeret that the ESS board pass on the news that Ken LaCosse – the owner of Mujitsu Shakuhachi has suddenly passed away. Ken was not only a fantastic person and friend to many of us in the shakuhachi world – he also hosted the “Shakuhachi BBQ” forum with Brian Tairaku Ritchie and made amazing shakuhachi. He pushed the limits of what was thought to be possible regarding wide bore jinashi shakuhachi! He called these exceptional shakuhachi for Taimu shakuhachi while his more “normal” shakuhachi were called Mujitsu shakuhachi. Heartfelt condolences to family and close friends!
    R.I.P dear Ken!