Anne Norman is a shakuhachi performer, improviser and composer, working in a diverse range of music creation. Anne is an intuitive performer and particularly enjoys spontaneous improvisation with musicians and dancers. Anne has also authored a book entitled Curiosi-tea, and presents shows combining narrative, shakuhachi, and tea humour!
Originally trained on Western Boehm system flute, Anne took up the shakuhachi under Nakamura Shindo in 1986 while living in Japan. In 1990 she received a two year grant from the Japanese Government (Monbusho) enabling her to further her studies of shakuhachi performance at the Tokyo University of Fine Art and Music under Living National Treasure Yamaguchi Goro. Anne also studied a different repertoire under Tajima Tadashi.
Anne ‘sings’ the pure voice of the shakuhachi with the sense of freedom and sheer ecstasy of a gifted singer! I don't remember ever hearing any instrument play such pure voice-like tones! Mareid Sullivan, celtic singer/song writer, film-maker, May 2011
Anne currently resides in Melbourne working as a freelance musician, and has composed for the Federation Bells, choirs, instrumental ensembles, found objects (especially bells made from power pole caps) and music for dance theatre. Much of Anne's work has focussed on improvisation in interaction with other artists, including actors, dancers, poets, visual artists, installation artists and musicians. Anne is a member of the quintet Jouissance, exploring a dialogue between Medieval and Byzantine chant and contemporary culture.
Anne has a Masters in Ethnomusicology (Monash Univ) and a Bachelor of Music, DipEd (Melb Univ). In addition to her performance schedule, Anne regularly works with taiko drummer Toshi Sakamoto, conducting a visiting Japanese Music in Schools program which involves performances, hands-on workshops and brief residencies in primary and secondary schools. Anne has written a bilingual musical for primary schools and has also been guest presenter / lecturer at Universities across the country. Anne also works as Artist in Residence in schools and universities, inspiring students to produce cross art-form collaborative performance work.
For more details on Anne's music activities, go to past gigs and CV & profiles.
"the shakuhachi of Anne Norman showed how moving and vocal this instrument can be in an emotionally mobile context." Clive O'Connell, The Age, Melbourne 9 April 2005