Hearthsong Folk Arts presents a contemplative event featuring Lehigh Valley Japanese bamboo flute master Nora Nohraku Suggs.
The 45-minute curated experience will include meditative seasonal readings focused on preparation and balance, Zen parables and a story from Japan’s ancient supernatural folkloric repertoire, all underpinned by music from the mystical and nature-evoking Shakuhachi tradition.
At the end, attendees are invited to stay for a 15-minute mini workshop to learn more about the Shakuhachi flute and to try a flute from Nora’s student collection.
Attendees are asked to bring any blankets, mats or pillows they wish for their comfort during the session, as in standard sound bath events. Chairs are available on site. The gathering occurs in the upstairs loft theater at the Ice House on 56 River St. in Bethlehem at 10am. Tickets are sliding scale
from $10-$15 and can be found at hearthsongfolkartscommunity.org/events.
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received her shakuhachi accreditations from the New York City Kyo-Shin-An dojo of Dai-Shihan James Nyoraku Schlefer, and has also studied with Dai-Shihan Kurahashi Yodo II, of Kyoto, Japan, and Dai-Shihan Dr. Riley Lee, of Australia. Dr. Suggs plays both shakuhachi and Western flute. She has played in England, Italy, Canada, Japan, Alaska, and throughout the continental US, and is a teacher, recitalist, and chamber musician, teaching and performing on both shakuhachi and flute. Dr. Suggs is the flutist and Artistic Director of the chamber music ensemble SATORI, and also performs with Two Part Invention, a duo of classical guitar and flute. Projects include recording two CDs of traditional and contemporary shakuhachi music, as well as performances featuring shakuhachi with guitar, cello, or clarinet; sankyoku trio and solo shakuhachi performances; a multidisciplinary project based on Japanese stories of the supernatural; and programs with Japanese poetry, calligraphy, art, and shakuhachi music.
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Hearthsong Folk Arts is a 501(c)3 non-profit producing folk cultural events that promote seasonal celebration, community engagement, preservation education, and individual wellbeing by bringing heritage arts and customs into modern lives.
The inaugural 2025 Season celebrates the journey round the wheel of the year with a mix of high energy Festival shows on the Ice House mainstage, and more intimate gatherings in Ice House’s Loft Theater. More information on Hearthsong and the 2025 Season can be found at www.heartstonefolkartscommunity.org.