Ronnie Nyogetsu Reishin Seldin
nyogetsu on the web  (this site)

Ronnie Nyogetsu studied shakuhachi in Kyoto, Japan with Kurahashi Yodo Sensei, who was a disciple of Jin Nyodo. There, in 1975, he received the name Nyogetsu and a teaching certificate at the level of Jun Shi-han in the Kinko school of shakuhachi. After his return to New York, Nyogetsu was awarded the rank of Shi-han (Master) in 1978, as a result of his efforts to spread the teaching of this instrument in America. In 1980, he received his Dai Shi-han, or Grand Master's license. In 2001 he received Koku-An Dai-Shihan (Grand Master's license at the level of Kyu-Dan, or 9th level) from Japan's Living National Treasure in shakuhachi, Aoki Reibo. Ronnie was also given the name Reishin (Heart/Mind of the Bell) at that time. He has performed on the soundtracks of several documentary films including the Academy Award nominated documentary "A Family Gathering" (1989) for which he also co-composed the sound track. Nyogetsu's playing also appears on the GRAMMY-nominated "The Planet Sleeps" (SONY).

Yoshio Kurahashi
website

Yoshio Kurahashi started studying the shakuhachi as a child, with his father, the first director of Muju-An shakuhachi school in Kyoto. Later he studied with Homei Matsumura, the renowned Kinko-style shakuhachi player in Nara, Japan. He gave his first recital in 1976 for which he received the Osaka Cultural Award.

In 1980 he became the second director of the Miju-An school. He has toured extensively since 1981, giving performances in the US, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, China and Isreal. Yoshio is director of the Kyoto Hogaku group and the Kyoto Sankyoku Association. Beginning in 1995 he has been teaching intensive annual classes in shakuhachi in Boston, New York, Boulder, San Francisco, Dallas, and Montreal.

Allen Nyoshin Steir (not available for 2008)
website

Allen Nyoshin Steir began working as a professional musician at age 14. Mr. Steir received both his Bachelor's and Master's degrees at the Manhattan School of Music. He studied the shakuhachi in New York with Ronnie Nyogetsu Reishin Seldin, in Kyoto with Yoshio Kurahashi, and in Tokyo with Aoki Reibo.

In 1996 he received his JunShiHan certificate and the performing name of Nyoshin, meaning "as the essence of spirit and truth." In 1998 received his ShiHan certificate. In that year he was an invited artist at the International Shakuhachi Festival in Boulder, CO.

Mr. Steir has performed extensively with the New York Gagaku Imperial Orchestra, as both a solo artist, and a member of trio ensembles at Tenri Culture Center, playing classical Japanese music, and as a guest artist with the Inoue Ensemble.

Mr. Steir has composed and played original scores for such theater productions as Antigone. His first album, Castles in the Sky, is traditional Zen Honkyoku (or meditation music) and was released in 1996. He can also be heard on the soundtrack of Jack and Me, a documentary, and the feature film, Interstate 84.

Daniel Nyohaku Soergel
website

Daniel Nyohaku Soergel completed study of the standard Kinko-Ru repertoire under the mentorship of Ronnie Nyogetsu Seldin and Yoshio Kurahashi. He performs regularly in the New York metropolitan area.

In 1998, after ten years of study of traditional Honkyoko and Sankyoku, he was awarded the title of Jun-Shi Han (master) of Kinko-Ryu from the Ki-Sui-An Dojo and was given the name "Nyohaku" which means: "like the essence of whiteness" to commemorate receiving of the Natori (teaching certification).

Mr. Soergel has played both solo and with many of New York's top Japanese musicians (shamisen and koto) at numerous museums, gardens, and cultural institutes. He plays at weddings, monastic retreats, and festivals, and is available for private events as well. Some of his recent projects have incorporated new music for shakuhachi combined with modern dance and western instruments. He teaches privately at his residence in Brooklyn Heights.