Biography
Mike Penny has received numerous awards for his innovative compositions and performances using the Tsugaru Shamisen. He first studied in Santa Cruz, CA with Kevin Kmetz, and later received the Japan Foundation’s Uchida Fellowship which allowed him to study in Tokyo with the highly respected Tsugaru shamisen sensei Fukushi Toyoaki. Mr. Penny has given hundreds of public performances and continues to perform regularly as a solo artist and in various groups throughout the country. He has become well known through his many viral video performances on YouTube, and has gained a following for his unprecedented style of shamisen playing which combines traditional and extended techniques in a variety of musical contexts including jazz, Balkan folk, Western classical, and popular music in a fusion of both east and west, past and future. In addition to performing and teaching shamisen, he works for the Japan Foundation, Los Angeles.
Awards Received
- August, 2018: Certificate of Appreciation from the City of Irvine for artistic contributions.
- December, 2007: Awarded the Uchida Fellowship by the Japan Foundation, Los Angeles to study Tsugaru shamisen in Tokyo with renowned shamisen instructor and performer Toyoaki Fukushi on a nearly daily basis for three months, all expenses paid.
- May, 2006: Awarded “nyuusho” at Kanagi International Tsugaru Shamisen Tournament (Goshogawara, Japan) in “B” class, which consisted of over 250 competitors who had been playing Tsugaru shamisen for 3-5 years.
- September, 2005: 1st Place in Global Rhythm Magazine’s Annual Songwriting Competition for original shamisen instrumental piece entitled “Cruzian Grass”.