Our annual summer event, Summer Festival, titled “Musical Banquet – Celebrating Dr. Jokichi Takamine’s Induction into the National Inventors Hall of Fame,” was held at the Manhattan School of Music (MSM) on Tuesday, July 2. The JCC Fund supports scholarships for outstanding Japanese students studying at MSM. Mr. Maeda, Vice President & Assistant Secretary of the Nippon Club, represents the JCC Fund on MSM’s International Advisory Board and interacts with MSM. Because of these relationships, this year’s event was held at MSM.

During the reception in the first half of the event, guests enjoyed a buffet-style dinner and socializing with participants.

The second half of the event began with an opening remarks by Mr. Jim Gandre, President of the Manhattan School of Music.

In commemoration of the induction of Dr. Jokichi Takamine, the first president of the Nippon Club, into the National Inventors Hall of Fame on May 9, 2024, which is also the title of this event, Mr. Maeda and the emcee of the event, Ms. Christina Maxwell, gave a presentation on the occasion. The National Inventors Hall of Fame presented Dr. Takamine with a certificate. Dr. Tomohiro Musha, SVP of Mitsui & Co., accepted the certificate of Dr. Takamine’s induction on behalf of Mr. Ueno (president of Mitsui & Co.), president of the Nippon Club.

Then it was showtime! The concert by MSM faculty and students began.

The first half is a classical performance:

Claude Debussy, Sonata for Flute, Viola and Harp, First movement (Pastorale)
– Blue Akira Shelton (Flute)
– Soolim Hamada Shin (Viola)
– Mariko Anraku (Harp)

Gaetano Donizetti, “Quel guardo il cavaliere” from the opera “Don Pasquale”
– Suzuna Ikeda (Lyric Soprano)
– Bradley Moore (Piano)
– George Gershiwin, “Summertime” from the opera “Porgy and Bess”

Xavier Montsalvaghe, “Canción de cuna para dormir un negrito” and “Canto negro” from “Cinco canciones negras”
Georges Bizet, “L’amour est un oiseau rebelle ‘Habanera’” from the opera “Carmen”
– J’Nai Bridges (Mezzo-Soprano)
– Bradley Moore (Piano)

Jacques Offenbach, “Belle nuit, o nuit d’amour” (Barcarolle) from the opera “Les contes d’Hoffmann”
– Suzuna Ikeda (Lyric Soprano)
– J’Nai Bridges (Mezzo-Soprano)
– Blue Akira Shelton (Flute)
– Soolim Hamada Shin (Viola)
– Mariko Anraku (Harp)
– Bradley Moore (Piano)

後半はジャズ演奏です：

Ugetzu
The Kicker
Gone with the wind
As Long As I Live

– June Cavlan (Voice)
– Erena Terakubo (Sax)
– Quinton Cain (Drums)
– John Benitez (Bass)
– Lifa Arosi (Piano)

The concert by the talented musicians was a great success, and the event ended with a closing address by Mr. Maeda.

Thank you very much to everyone who attended. We hope you will join us again in the fall and winter for more Nippon Club events.

We would like to express our sincere appreciation to all of our member companies who sponsored this event.

Mitsubishi Corporation (Americas)

Mitsui & Co. (U.S.A.), Inc.
Sumitomo Corporation of Americas

Daiwa Capital Markets America Inc.
Deloitte LLP
Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation
IHI AMERICAS INC.
Amnet New York