May 18, 2007

Jazz pianist and composer Keiko Matsui will perform with the Asia America Symphony Orchestra under the baton of music director and conductor, David Benoit, in a concert event marking the American debut of Pioneer’s listening technology for the deaf and listening impaired.

Known in Japan as “Listening Through the Body,” Pioneer’s technology is used at leading Tokyo concert halls and features a vibrating seat and speakers at ear level that allow users to feel the rhythms and vibrations of the musical performance. The system can be used with or without a hearing aid.
 
Pioneer (www.pioneerelectronics.com) has invited students from local universities and college campuses that are well-known for their deaf studies programs to attend the event. Pioneer has also invited members of local advocacy groups, including the OC Deaf Equal Access Foundation (OC DEAF) and the Greater Los Angeles Agency on Deafness (GLAD), to attend the concert free of charge to experience the new listening technology.
 
“As part of our ongoing commitment to the arts, and to innovations in audio technology, we are honored to partner with the Asia America Symphony Orchestra to sponsor this concert featuring Keiko Matsui,” says Tom Haga, President of Pioneer North America, Inc. and board member of the Asia America Symphony Association. “As we celebrate the performance of one of Japan’s best-known musical artists, we are honored that our listening technology will allow local students who are deaf and hearing impaired to enjoy her performance.”

The event is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. at the George and Sakaye Aratani Japan America Theatre at the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center, 244 S. San Pedro St. in Los Angeles’s Little Tokyo area. Works by Ravel, Copland and others will also be performed.  Tickets ($25-$75) are available at www.asiaamericasymphony.org or by calling (310)377-8977.

Source: Pioneer