Christmas Soprano Concert December 14, 2025
A Sunday afternoon Soprano Christmas Concert by Kazuyo Yamazaki and pianist Kyoko Sawada attracted a large turnout and featured a mixture of sacred Christmas hymns in English and Japanese as well as popular Christmas carols. Pastor McKenzie opened and closed the event with prayer in Japanese and English and Kazuyo Yamazaki gave a powerful testimony of the presence of Jesus in her faith journey framed within the songs she sang. Photos courtesy of Phillip Budidharma.
Japanese Folk Singer HoSoVoSo
On February 28, 2026, we hosted a rare performance by a Japanese singer named Yuki Ota who goes by the artist’s name “HoSoVoSo.” The music featured original compositions as well as songs by James Taylor and Louis Armstrong. It was a relaxing and quiet event of thoughtful music, sponsored by The Japan-America Society and the Japan Cultural Association of the Carolinas.
Japanese Spring Festival
And on Saturday, March 28, the Japan Cultural Association of the Carolinas and the Japan-America Society held a Japanese Spring Festival hosted at St. Mark’s. Over 250 people attended again this year!
The program included wa-daiko Japanese drums, remarks by Charlotte Council member Danté Anderson, a lecture about Japanese Spring festivals, flower arrangement demonstration, a student chorus, kimono show, and Japanese song and dance. Japanese crafts and foods were also available.
JCAC and the JAC are community partners of St. Mark’s. Thank you to our partners for providing this event and to Dr. Tomoko Deguchi for her tireless diligence in planning the festival!