COURTESY OF LISA MATSUMOTO
Playwright Lisa Matsumoto, one of the recipients of the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts performing arts fellowships, starred as Queen Yumiko in her work, "The Princess and the Iso Peanut."
Seven local artists have been selected for the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts 2002 individual artist fellowships honoring excellence and achievement in the performing arts. State group awards
7 art fellowshipsStar-Bulletin
Selections were made from recommendations forwarded by 23 performing arts professionals meeting in four review panels. Each fellow receives a $5,000 award. They are:
>> Rachel Berman -- The performing artist/dancer danced internationally with the Paul Taylor Dance Company for 11 years and has taught for the past 15 years. In Hawaii, she has performed with Tau Dance Theater and has taught at Mid Pacific School of the Arts. She will use her award to advance her studies with choreographers to expand her repertory.
>> Kenny Endo -- Began his taiko studies 27 years ago, performing and collaborating with local, national and international artists and teaching the art form. He is working on a new piece based on Hawaii's natural elements, from the islands' volcanic beginnings to the arrival of man.
>> Karen Yamamoto Hackler -- The actor, director, storyteller, teacher and playwright will use her award to research and develop plays, including work based on everyday local stories.
>> Phyllis S.K. Look -- The theater director is active with community productions and will use her award to advance theatrical rendering of the writings, art and music of those with Alzheimer's disease.
>> Lisa Matsumoto -- Recipient of four Po'okela Awards for stage writing has directed her talents to educating students through the arts. The award will assist her research for a new work about invasive species in Hawaii, "Peril in Paradise," which will tour Oahu schools.
>> Donald Reid Womack -- A 1997 recipient of an SFCA fellowship, the composer has taught at the University of Hawaii at Manoa since 1994, and organized several contemporary music festivals. He will use his award to support the writing of a violin concerto for Honolulu Symphony concertmaster Ignace Yang.
>> Matthew Wright -- Artistic and executive director of Honolulu Dance Theatre is developing a work in collaboration with local dancers, using text, poetry and music to explore human emotions that are produced under adverse social conditions.
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