By Wendy Kobayashi
(The Internationalist vol. 50, Spring 2013)
"I have wanted to do something like this for a long time!" What could Philippe Eymard, Nishimachi's Director of Development and Alumni Relations, be talking about? It turns out it has been Philippe's long-cherished dream to showcase some of the wide-ranging talent of Nishimachi graduates; and last month, on Saturday, March 16, he saw his pet project realized as five Nishimachi alumni took to the floor of the Ushiba Memorial Gymnasium in the 90-minute musical extravaganza In Concert! held in support of the Nishimachi Outreach Scholarship Program.
Well over one hundred people—alumni, parents, staff, family, and friends—gathered in eager anticipation, seated at tables in a setting surprisingly reminiscent of an intimate nightclub, enjoying the sumptuous buffet and free-flowing liquid refreshments, catching up with old friends and making new ones.
We knew this was going to be a special evening when Headmaster Terry Christian started the entertainment with a welcome given in his own inimitable style, which included removing outerwear to display a specially designed In Concert! T-shirt. But the party really got started when Hakuryu Shimizu '01, aka H-Slang, and his professional recording artist band Yalla Family kicked off with a selection of their original rap and R&B music, including songs such as "Pinot Chardonnay" and the hit "Beginning," which got everyone up on their feet, dancing and waving their hands in the air!
Hakuryu's former classmate Marie Kuroda '01 followed with well-known tunes "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da" and "Stand by Me," sung on either side of a haunting version of "Sunny," before Natsumi Ikenaga '03, changing both tempo and mood, thrilled the suddenly hushed audience with her delicate yet powerful renditions of classics by Gershwin, Liszt, and Rodgers and Hammerstein and showed everyone why she was accepted to study at London's Royal College of Music. Shinnosuke Yokota '99 added another intriguing dimension to the proceedings by performing three songs in Japanese, "うたいのバラッド", "わかって下さい", and his own "自分らしく" to piano accompaniment, and ending with an impassioned cry of "Nishimachi Forever!" Finally, giving Alicia Keys a run for her money with her "Girl On Fire," Sachi Montgomery '03 closed out the evening with a medley of guitar-supported ballads, one of which, "My Dear Friend," is her original and moving tribute to those who suffered in the Great Eastern Japan Earthquake and tsunami of 3/11.
The event officially ended with performers and audience alike singing the Nishimachi school song, "Let There Be Peace on Earth." However, such was the buzz by then that there was anything but peace reigning in the gym! People had to be "gently persuaded" to leave, with many continuing to enjoy elsewhere the excitement and celebrations well on into the evening.
Thank you to everyone who supported this event in so many different ways to make it such an unforgettable (and successful) evening. You can see a selection of photographs on the school's website or contact the Business Development Office for more information. We are planning to follow up with a second In Concert! evening later in the year, showcasing more of the incredible talents of our Nishimachi community in support of the Outreach Scholarship Program for Student Diversity. We hope you will join us for future events.
(From Left to Right: Mayumi Nakayama; Director of Development, Philippe Eymard; Headmaster Christian; current parents Wendy Kobayashi and Deirdre Nonaka)