Shawn Renzoh（蓮蔵）Head

Biography

As a composer, Shawn has made a substantial output of music that reflects the complex aesthetics of Japanese Music. His recent composition, “Burning Roots Sketch No. 4,” commissioned by violinist, Misha Vayman, is an example of the connection between his western roots and Japanese sounds. Vayman says that Shawn’s music is “A deeply felt Japanese sentiment structured with a virtuosic western filigree.” Other performers have said, “When playing Shawn’s music, I need to open my musical perspective to colors, techniques, and tonalities I don’t get to use often while playing western repertoire.”-Leah Stevens, flutist. His current compositional project is to compose a concerto for Shakuhachi and Orchestra, commissioned by the Energy Corridor Houston Orchestra, (ECHO).

In 2016, Shawn released his first CD titled “Fourteen Roei,” featuring soprano Naomi Columna. This fifteen-track album features ancient Japanese and Chinese text for soprano and shakuhachi. It has been revered by Japanese listeners and deemed a “reconstructed masterpiece of Classical Japanese Poetry.” Kazuaki Uekawa. He was also featured in violinist, Aija Izaks CD “Teksasys Latgalisi.” The CD won the cultural Bonkus prize in Latvia in 2018. Shawn’s next CD is in progress, which features new works by composers around the world.