Grateful Crane Ensemble
The Asia America Symphony Association and Guild will hold their annual Bravo Awards Gala recognizing Union Bank, Christine Uriu, and the Grateful Crane Ensemble for their support of the Asia America Symphony Association and the community on Sunday, May 16, at the Kyoto Grand Hotel & Gardens, 120 South Los Angeles Street, Los Angeles.
Masaaki Tanaka, President and CEO of UnionBankCal Corporation
Union Bank – Over the past ten years, Union Bank has been committed to supporting the Asia America Symphony Association by sponsoring the organization’s concerts, golf tournament, Bravo Awards Gala and youth programs.
Accepting the award on behalf of Union Bank is UnionBankCal Corporation’s president and CEO, Masaaki Tanaka.
Union Bank funds donations and sponsorships supporting a broad range of charitable categories, including community economic development, affordable housing, education, health and human services, culture and arts, emergency services, and the environment.
Union Bank is particularly interested in donations and sponsorships that support low-income populations and promote and enhance diversity in all its forms.
Christine Uriu
Christine Uriu – Christine Uriu was born in Los Angeles, California, and graduated from UCLA with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Education and obtained her secondary teaching credential from USC.
Her participation in community organizations include serving as a board member of the Nichi Bei Funjinkai, co-president of the Japanese American Medical Association Auxiliary, and co-president and board member of the Asia America Symphony Guild.
Christine has been actively involved with the Asia America Symphony Association and Guild for over 15 years. With her "Three Musketeer" friends, Maria Hodgson and Sadaye Kasuga, she enjoyed chairing many Casino Night fundraiser events.
Christine is married to Dr. Masashi Uriu and between both families have 9 children and 14 grandchildren.
Grateful Crane Ensemble – Established in July 2001, the Grateful Crane Ensemble, Inc. is a non-profit theatre company whose mission is to create and present educational and entertaining bilingual programs that tell the stories of sacrifices made by first and second generation Japanese Americans throughout history and show appreciation for such sacrifices.
What started as a small group of performers singing and entertaining residents of the Keiro Retirement home in Los Angeles, soon spread to other venues throughout the country, and even made its ways to Hiroshima, Japan.
The Grateful Crane Ensemble produced the award-winning and touring show, The Camp Dance: The Music and the Memories – a tribute to those who endured the U.S. concentration camps for Americans of Japanese ancestry during World War II, and how music, song and dances help internees face the hardships of “relocation”.
The show was recipient of the 2006 Ruby Yoshino Schaar Playwright Award. Also that year, the Grateful Crane premiered Nihonmachi: The Place to Be - A Musical Journey at the Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California, as part of the celebration of the 100th Anniversary of San Francisco's Japantown.
In 2009, The Grateful Crane Ensemble received a California Civil Liberties Public Education Program grant to produce Hiroshi Kashiwagi's play, The Betrayed, which performed earlier this year at the Japanese American National Museum in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles.
The Asia America Symphony Association Bravo Awards Gala is an annual fundraising event which directly benefits the AASA’s mission to promote music and cultural exchange, encouraging the development of young musicians, and offering a broad variety of programs designed to educate and enrich the diverse communities of Southern California.
The forty-nine year old symphony, led by internationally renowned pianist/composer David Benoit as Music Director and Conductor, is devoted to opening artistic and cultural borders by fusing the music of east and west.
The Asia America Symphony Guild is a support group of the AASA, comprised of 70 members that assist with concerts, rehearsals, fundraisers, youth programs and community events that are integral to AASA.
Highlights of the evening include a performance by award honorees, the Grateful Crane Ensemble, plus music performed by members of the Asia America Youth Orchestra under the direction of David Benoit. This year’s Masters of Ceremonies are David Ono, KABC 7 News Anchor and Tamlyn Tomita, Actor.
Sponsorship opportunities as well as individual tickets of $175, $350 and $500 per person are available. The Asia America Symphony Association is a non-profit organization.
For further information, please contact the Asia America Symphony Association office at (310) 377-8977 or visit our website at www.asiaamericasymphony.org.
