Sigma Alpha Iota

sai-national.org • Winter 2026 17 my son's death. My husband, a mining engineer and gemologist, left for Switzerland with a heavy heart to buy emeralds from a jeweler to eventually sell in Africa. There, he happened to mention I was a composer. I sent him the nine solos I had completed, not expecting what followed. I later received a postcard from Jon Sivell, a Swiss pianist, asking permission to premiere my compositions—a curiosity for this beginning, unknown composer. I had enough time to complete four more solos more suitable to showcase the high caliber of his playing. When I arrived in Switzerland, Mr. Sivell explained that his friend, an opera conductor, liked one of the selections, Echoes of the Earth, and wanted me to demonstrate how to play it. I had written fast 16th notes of five notes played alternately, starting from the bottom of the piano keys to the top, to give the effect of a roaring ocean. This required a quick, loose action which was easy to demonstrate with the Reflex Stroke technique. The concert took place in February 1981, and I left for home the next morning. My husband called soon after I arrived home to say Mr. Sivell thought beginning the concert with Chopin and ending with Tashiro might have been a mistake. "She is no Chopin," he had said, and of course, I agreed. However, two weeks later, two newspapers published such rave reviews that Mr. Sivell immediately translated them and sent them to me. The positive response from both audience and critics from this performance was the reason I decided to change course. I could not ignore the Bible verse that sustained me during my difficult days. This led me to compose a choral anthem, With a Love So Bright, giving homage to Jesus. With two separate church choirs offering to perform them, my healing began. My subsequent decision to become a full-time missionary at my sister's church in New York happened after I realized their beliefs did not conflict with mine. When I was invited to perform as a guest pianist for one of their celebrations, it was another good reason to join. It was not easy leaving my daughter, two grandsons, and husband, who passed away a year later. There, I was given two missions: first, teach music to the reverend's five children. Although they were studying violin, none could read notes. When I was told they would run and hide because they disliked their music teacher, I knew it would not be easy. They would throw the music books at me that I purchased at a local music store, so my only recourse was to start composing for them. I had them choose titles of their own and would compose a song with words for their approval. This magically worked! I began to see handwritten words, like "I like this piece," as well as drawings of a grand piano. The second mission was more palatable: to provide music for top leaders and ministers invited to a banquet. The church purchased a beautiful-sounding Steinway Grand and a chance for me to play all my favorite songs. It was refreshing for me to improvise, changing "keys" to connect one song to another to have a continuous flow of the music. After I made copies of my favorite tunes—including Disney, patriotic, Broadway, and Elvis—I selected specific ones to play that were fitting for that event and group. When they started to sing along, the reverend noticed how the atmosphere suddenly changed to a warmer and more inviting one, which he had never experienced. It was now apparent to him that this pianist was crucial for his message. During that time, a visiting guest from Holland invited me to play for his Martial Arts school. An Austrian owner of a Music School, a one-hour train ride from Holland, was a second destination for me to perform for his advanced students and guests of the Intercultural Organization. Since I had to be gone for three weeks, it was important that I report this to the reverend. His spiritual awareness knew before I did of the higher purpose of my offering. This is when he decided to pay for my travel expenses. One last event was a definite sign of my choosing the right mission for my life: I was asked to perform for the Grand Opening of the Peace Pagoda in Kalmykia, Russia. Kalmykia was known as the sole Buddhist region in Europe, and the president had chosen a specific spot for the Pagoda to be built. But they were having difficulties raising the money to complete it. One branch of our New York church was located in Osaka, Japan, and were originally Buddhists, so they knew the value of this pagoda. With my Christian background, I was not aware of the importance of this event until much later. But I was asked to perform in Osaka in 2003 for a different purpose. COMPOSER continued on page 19 Cposers Peace Pagoda Peace Pagoda

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