Kenji Haba

Kenji Haba is a guitarist who heralds a new direction for classical guitar through his insight and work with the coloration of sounds, as well as through bringing new formats to the landscape, including the innovative guitar-cello ensemble. He is also an active performer of contemporary music, with over 20 pieces of music written for and premiered by him, including works featured in classical guitar magazines in Japan as well as the US. He is well known for his interpretation of Toru Takemitsu, his performances having been described as an “ideal match for Takemitsu’s music” by Fanfare.

He found an award-winning guitar-cello ensemble, Duo Anova with cellist, Susan D. Mandel. In 2014, Duo Anova won honorable mention award in SMIA chamber music competition. At the same year, Duo Anova made its debut at prestigious Carnegie Hall presented by Composer’s Voice, and praised as “striking compatibility” by New Music for 21st Century. It has also performed at many other venues, including Bohemian National Hall, New York Academy of Art, Composer’s Voice 100th Gala concert, Saint Peter’s Church, and etc. In 2016, Duo Anova performed at Connecticut Classical Guitar Society.

Kenji Haba is also an active solo musician and performed throughout the States, including in New York, New Jersey, Tennessee, Nevada, Kentucky, Georgia, South Carolina as well as in Japan. In 2011, Kenji Haba was appointed as featured artist at the 3rd Annual Special Guitar Concert, in New York City, sponsored by Vox Novus.

Kenji Haba has had opportunities to work with some of the preeminent composers of our time, including a Grammy nominated composer, Sergio Roberto, International Wiener Composition Prize winner, Dai Fujikura, and many others. Kenji Haba has premiered over 20 pieces of music written for him, including “New York, New York” by Thomas Flippin featured in Guitar Foundation of America Magazine in the United States as well as “Sparks” by Dai Fujikura featured in Gendai Guitar Magazine in Japan. Kenji Haba and Vox Novus, NYC based composer’s organization, have been working closely, and he was the first guitarist to be appointed to perform the 15 minutes of fame project as a part of Composer’s voice concert series as well as Tennessee Classical Guitar Seminar in 2011.

In 2013, Kenji Haba was interviewed and appeared in Classical Guitar Magazine in England as well was Gendai Guitar in Japan.

In 2010, Kenji Haba released his debut CD, music of Toru Takemitsu. Fanfare magazine highly praised the work, saying that his “nuanced performances are an ideal match for Takemitsu’s refined music.” Since then, Mr. Haba has been gaining more and more attention for his interpretations of the music of Takemitsu.

Kenji Haba has shared the stage with other eminent artists such as Oren Fader, Gregory Durozel. The performance with Oren Fader (guitar), was covered by Sukan New York Seikatsu, praising the ‘two renowned guitarists’. His performance with Gregory Durozel (violin) was a sold out Valentine’s day concert in New Jersey that ended with multiple standing ovations.

Eastern and western cultural experiences have influenced Mr. Haba’s musical perception and directed him to a unique artistry. He was born in a rural area, called Mino-City, Japan. In 2001, he moved to United States to study Business, and worked for an accounting firm in NY. However, at age of 25, he listened to the sound of the master guitarist, Andres Segovia, and he came to an epiphany and realized he needed to pursue the art of the guitar. In 2006, Haba began studying classical guitar under renowned guitarist, Kevin R. Gallagher, and after one year of study, he was accepted into the Manhattan School of Music Master of Music Program, and worked with Mark Delpriora. Show less