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The ensemble is composed of senior musicians, Yoko Hiraoka and David Wheeler. Yoko Hiraoka is a native of Kyoto, Japan and is a master performer of the koto, shamisen and jiuta voice. David Wheeler lived in Japan for over twenty years studying and performing the shakuhachi (Japan's end-blown bamboo flute) with most of Japan's great shakuhachi masters and finest traditional ensembles. Between them they have more than fifty years of professional performance history internationally, with numerous concert engagements here in North America and in Japan. The ensemble will be performing the classical music of Edo and Meiji-era Japan, which corresponds to the years 1600 through 1912, as well as twentieth-century and contemporary Japanese compositions. In addition to their Thursday evening concert, Duo Sõkyõ will be in residence in the Department of Performance Studies at 11:30 am, 12:40 pm, & 3:00 pm on Wednesday, February 6, and at 9:35 am, 11:10 am, & 2:20 pm on Thursday, February 7. Residency activities are located in Rudder Theatre and are free and open to the public.