TICKETS:
Student General Admission* - Seated rows and standing room ($10 ADV)
General Admission - Seated rows and standing room ($15 ADV)
Table for 4 - One ticket for up to four people at a private table. ($72 ADV)
*Must present valid student ID with ticket at the door.
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Violinist Who Transcends Borders and Cultures
In the hands of Aska Maret, the violin becomes more than strings and wood—it becomes the voice of the world, singing songs of connection, unity, and endless beauty.
“For me performance holds the power of transformation. When I perform I become sound itself.” – Aska
In a world where music is a universal language, few artists embody its power to connect, inspire, and elevate as profoundly as Aska Maret. Known for her mesmerizing violin performances and career that spans continents, Aska and her quartet performs Saturday, January 18, for Underground Jazz at Scout Hall.
“Sometimes I vibrate with intense passion, shaking the listener out of our set patterns of being. At other times, I slow toward silence, soothing and caressing our common sorrows. And sometimes I find myself filling the soundscape around me with sheer vibrance and delight,” shared Aska.
The style of Aska reaches, at the same time, an impressive technique and an emotional expressiveness. Agile, lithe, delicate but strong and edgy at the same time. While she plays, the violin seems to be a continuation of her body, with perfect harmony between his inner world and the external. Through it, she can touch the hearts of the people, and through it, people can touch her soul.
Aska was born in Tokyo and grew up among a family of visual artists. At the age of four she began studying piano and violin. Aska’s unique improvisational style is probably linked to her childhood habit of practicing her violin in outdoor settings in dialogue with nature. At the age of fifteen Aska won the Grand Prize in the quartet category at an international competition in London. She went on to study violin and composition at Tokyo National University of Fine Arts.
Since 1980’s Aska has been involved with countless studio recording and concert tours with many popular artists. She also leads a large strings group (Aska Strings), which has released four CDs of original compositions including a collaborative work “Encounter” with Hugo Fattoruso (Pf). Aska was a one of the musical directors of the Asian Fantasy Orchestra, a 10-year pan-Asian project supported by the Japan Foundation. In New York Aska was awarded a Bessie Composition Award in 1998.
Aska has been involved with musical direction and compositions for numerous theatrical productions. Her newest work is “Caligula” performed at New National Theater in Tokyo In November of 2019. Aska has collaborated with many multifaceted musicians, such as Scott Robinson and Pheeroan akLaff and with Butoh dancers (Tour Iwashita from San-kai-juku, etc.). In 2017 Scott Robinson and Aska released an improvisational bass clarinet and violin duo CD: “Luminacion” from the Scien-Sonic label in New York.
Aska’s reputation as an artist who transcends genres has also led her to collaborate with contemporary musicians, film composers, and experimental sound artists. Her versatility and willingness to push the boundaries of classical music have earned her accolades from critics and peers alike. Whether she is performing a soaring interpretation of Bach or exploring modern compositions, her technical mastery and emotional depth remain unparalleled.
Offstage, Aska is a passionate advocate for music education and cultural exchange. She has led workshops in underserved communities around the globe, believing that every child deserves access to the transformative power of music. “Music gave me my voice,” she shares. “I want to help others find theirs.”
Now, as Aska prepares for her next world tour, her fans eagerly anticipate her new program, Odyssey. Inspired by her travels and encounters, Odyssey is a musical journey through cultures and time, blending classical masterpieces with folk traditions and contemporary pieces. With her violin as her compass, Aska invites audiences to join her on an adventure that promises beauty, connection, and inspiration.
Through her tireless dedication to her craft and her passion for bridging cultures, Aska Maret has emerged not just as a violinist, but as a global ambassador of music. Her performances remind us of what music can achieve—it can heal, unite, and transcend. For those fortunate enough to witness Aska live, it is not just a concert—it is a journey, one that leaves hearts full and spirits soaring.
In the hands of Aska Maret, the violin becomes more than strings and wood—it becomes the voice of the world, singing songs of connection, unity, and endless beauty, soon to grace Scout Hall.
