Hiroya Tsukamoto is a one of a kind composer, guitarist and singer-songwriter from Kyoto, Japan. He began playing the five-string banjo when he was thirteen, and took up the guitar shortly after. In 1994, Hiroya entered The Osaka University and while at college in Japan, Hiroya was introduced to a musical and social movement in South America called Nueva Cancion headed by musical legends such as Victor Jara and Violeta Parra.

In 2000, Hiroya received a scholarship to Berklee College of Music and came to the United States. He is also the recipient of the Professional Music Achievement Award. Hiroya completed a debut album entitled The Other Side of the World with his band INTEROCEANICO and released in 2004. His composition entitled El Otro Lado del Mundo was nominated as the finalist of The USA Songwriting Competition 2004 and Samba de Siempre in 2005, also Seventh Night is the finalist of International Acoustic Music Award in 2006. Hiroya released his second album entitled Confluencia in 2006 and the third album Where the River Shines in 2008.

Hiroya has been leading concerts with his group including several appearances at Blue Note in New York and he performed with Esperanza Spalding, Marta Gomez, Kendrick Scott (The Crusaders), Pete Kennedy (The Kennedys) and Dave Maxwell(Muddy Waters Band).

For more information and a peek at this innovative performer live, go to   hiroyatsukamoto.com.

Tickets are $10. to $14. available online  franklinoperahouse.org or call 934-1901

Contact: Dan Darling

Executive Director

Franklin Opera House