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The Iowa Choral Directors Association proudly welcomes the Senior Choir of The Little Singers of Tokyo to perform in the North Iowa Community Auditorium on Wednesday, July 28, as part of the 2010-2011 NIACC Performing Arts and Leadership Series.

The Little Singers of Tokyo was founded in 1951 by Shinichi Hasegawa to introduce renaissance music to Japanese children as well as develop the straight-tone singing style of that European choral tradition in Japan, and the legacy of excellence in singing is being carried on by his daughters, Saeko and Hisae Hasegawa.  In 1964, The Little Singers of Tokyo were invited to come to America for the first time to sing at Carnegie Hall.  During that same visit, they were featured on the "Ed Sullivan Show.”  Since their first trip to America, The Little Singers of Tokyo have made nearly 30 tours to the United States, as well as international tours of many other countries.

The Little Singers of Tokyo have won numerous international singing competitions as well as having performed with famous artists, operatic theaters and orchestras around the world.  In 1998, The Little Singers of Tokyo performed in Mahler’s Symphony No. 3, conducted by Claudio Abbado, when the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra was in Tokyo, receiving high praises.  In December 2009, they performed Beethoven’s 9th Symphony conducted by Kurt Mazur, who praised them very highly. The Little Singers of Tokyo have release nine CDs of their music.

Children from age six to university students participate in five different levels of choirs.  The Little Singers of Tokyo repertoire covers a wide range from Gregorian Chants to contemporary works. 

For more information on The Little Singers of Tokyo, visit www.lsot.jp.

Tickets to see The Little Singers of Tokyo are available for immediate purchase by calling the NIACC Box Office at 641-422-4188 or toll-free 1-888-GO NIACC, ext. 4188.  Tickets can also be purchased at the door.  Please note, this is not a Performing Arts and Leadership Series season ticket event.

Platinum Sponsors for the 2010-2011 series include NIACC; Globe Gazette Elizabeth Muse Norris Charitable Fund; the Globe Gazette; Alliant Energy; Henkel Construction; Kraft; Mason City Clinic; Principal Financial Group; and Winnebago Industries Foundation. Gold sponsors include Dr. Dave & Cathy Beck; Community National Bank; Diamond Joe Casino; First Citizens National Bank; First State Bank of Belmond; Dr. Gary W. Swenson and Dean A. Genth; Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa; Martin, Cooney, MacNider & Cooney Financial Consultants of Raymond James & Associates, Inc.; The Soener Foundation; and Sukup Manufacturing. In kind sponsors include Country Inn and Suites and KIMT.

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