Ganbare Japan!, charity concert for Japan (Includes interview and first-hand account)

Ganbare is Japanese equivalent of “Hang in there”, a word that delivers a special effort to someone who’s in a process of a hard work.
Vancouver Symphony Orchestra was the first who stepped up in their initiative and other artists, supporters, sponsors, businesses, media and volunteers followed soon after to organize the earthquake relief concert. All the profits from the concert went to Japanese Red Cross for the needs of those who suffered devastating tragedy on March 11th. The City of Vancouver Civic Theatres waived the rent for the Queen Elizabeth Theatre for the first time in history to support the event.

Jay Hirabayashi, the director of Kokoro Dance on stage of Queen Elizabeth Theatre in Vancouver.

Joseph Boltrukiewicz

There was an instant response from the Vancouver artist community and within a month a spectacular show was prepared. The benefit concert was an expression of the spirit of coming together to work as one organism to help Japan while playing music and presenting the arts.
The concert started with the opening sequence of Eagle Song Dancers by Bill Williamson and members of the Squamish Nation who are aboriginal group of people living in the region of Lower Mainland. It was soon followed by a solo dance of Jay Hirabayashi, the director of Kokoro Dance who performed his original dance to the meditation tune of Japanese bamboo flute played by Takeo Yamashiro.

Jon Kimura Parker and Vancouver Symphony Orchestra on stage of Queen Elizabeth Theatre in Vancouver during Ganbare Japan! benefit concert.

Joseph Boltrukiewicz

Main part of the concert was the classical music pieces of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, the composer very popular in Japan, played by Vancouver Symphony Orchestra and Jon Kimura Parker, a Vancouverite who has performed and collaborated with famous musicians on many stages of the world. Erin Wall (soprano) and David Pomeroy (tenor) from Vancouver Opera sang parts of Vivaldi’s La Traviata.

Rock band from Vancouver, 54-40, on stage of Queen Elizabeth Theatre in Vancouver during Ganbare Japan! benefit concert.

Joseph Boltrukiewicz

After the intermission the concert continued with the Vancouver based rock band 54-40, Mae Moore, Bill and Saffron Henderson from Chilliwack, Doug and the Slugs, and The Sojourners. The musical part of the concert was closed by Saint Louis, Missouri, born Jim Byrnes who has had such names like Jerry Lee Hooker and Muddy Waters on the list of collaborators during his 45 years career of singing blues.

Jim Byrnes and The Sojourners on stage of Queen Elizabeth Theatre in Vancouver during Ganbare Japan! benefit concert.

Joseph Boltrukiewicz

Before the final part of the concert, pre-taped video message from David Suzuki was played to all the audience. In the Finale, Taiko for Tohoku, a joint collaboration of taiko players was presented on the stage of the theatre. There are 9 groups of taiko players in the Lower Mainland, famous from numerous cultural events on the artistic scene of Vancouver, collecting some 60 players from different cultural backgrounds who are interested in Japanese drum (Jap. taiko) beating.

Taiko for Tohoku, a group dance of drummers during Ganbare Japan! benefit concert, Queen Elizabeth Theatre in Vancouver.

Joseph Boltrukiewicz

The most famous are Uzume Taiko (first Canadian professional group of taiko drummers), Chibi Taiko, Katari Taiko, Ryukyu Taiko and other drumbeating ensembles. These groups gave a 20-minute performance of the stage of Queen Elizabeth Theatre in a coordinated show that filled the theatre with high energy that was intended to be heard all the way to Japan.

A group dance of drummers and representatives of the Squamish Nation in the finale of Ganbare Japan! benefit concert, Queen Elizabeth Theatre in Vancouver.

Joseph Boltrukiewicz

Final scene of Ganbare Japan! benefit concert, balloons and paper cranes shower on the taiko dancers in Queen Elizabeth Theatre in Vancouver.

Joseph Boltrukiewicz

Drums, paper cranes and balloons on stage of Ganbare Japan! benefit concert, Queen Elizabeth Theatre in Vancouver.

Joseph Boltrukiewicz

The shade of Jay Hirabayashi, the director of Kokoro Dance on stage of Queen Elizabeth Theatre in Vancouver during Ganbare Japan! benefit concert.

Joseph Boltrukiewicz