As a licensed teacher and active performer of the shakuhachi, Steven Casano has performed on the documentary soundtrack, Aloha Akebono (KHON TV) and has given performances and guest lectures in Hawaii at the Japanese Consulate, Bishop Museum, Honolulu Academy of Arts, University of Hawaii at Manoa, East-West Center, Hawaii Theater, Chaminade University, and Kapiolani Community College. He has also performed in Osaka & Bisei, Japan; Albany, New York; Chicago Illinois and is a frequent presentor at the Japanese Studies Association's Freeman Foundation Summer Institute. A recipient of the prestigious Japanese Ministry of Education Scholarship (Monbushou), Steven has conducted extensive research on the modern history of the shakuhachi tradition at Osaka University and under the guidance of world-renowned scholar, Tsukitani Tsuneko, and the Osaka-based Shakuhachi Kenkyuukai of the Osaka University of Arts. Mr. Casano has been published in the international journal, "The World of Music" and has served on the faculty of the Hawaii Shakuhachi Festival 2006, Kauai Shakuhachi Festival 2014, and the Shakuhachi Festival of the Pacific 2017. His teachers include Robert Herr and Riley Lee in Hawaii and Ishikawa Toshimitsu in Japan. Steven was also lucky enough to work directly with the world-renowned Yokoyama Katsuya in both workshops and private lessons in Bisei, Japan. In the last several years he has worked with Zenyoji Keisuke in Tokyo studying honkyoku from Fudaiji Temple and the Nezasaha style of playing and most recently he began studies with Dr. Yamada Fumio, prefectural designated holder of the Japanese intangible treasure Kinpu-ryū Shakuhachi, to further deepen his understanding and playing of the Kinpu-ryū, Nezasaha style. In 2000, Steven received his Jun-Shihan license from Yokoyama Katsuya and Ishikawa Toshimitsu. In 2016 , he received his Shihan license and the name Taizen (泰然）from Grandmaster Riley Lee and also in 2024 his Dai-shihan and the name Kōchku (光竹).
Steven has released two CDs, The Voice of Bamboo: Take no Koe & San Kyorei: Sacred Music for Shakuhachi. In the Summer of 2022, Steven competed in the World Shakuhachi Festival Online Competition, where he placed 4th in the modern music category and received a special prize for "Best Video." In 2023, he received 1st place in the Hawai'i Regional Osaka International Music Competition. Most recently, Steven received Platinum Medals in the Global International Music Competition, Trinity International Music Competition, Canadian International Music Competition, and the Grand Maestro International Music Competition.
Steven has released two CDs, The Voice of Bamboo: Take no Koe & San Kyorei: Sacred Music for Shakuhachi. In the Summer of 2022, Steven competed in the World Shakuhachi Festival Online Competition, where he placed 4th in the modern music category and received a special prize for "Best Video." In 2023, he received 1st place in the Hawai'i Regional Osaka International Music Competition. Most recently, Steven received Platinum Medals in the Global International Music Competition, Trinity International Music Competition, Canadian International Music Competition, and the Grand Maestro International Music Competition.
Frank Iogha
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Mr. Casano is on the music faculty of the Punahou Music School (Honolulu, HI), where he teaches piano, music theory, and shakuhachi. He has also been a lecturer in Music Theory and Piano Pedagogy at the music department at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Mr. Casano is a nationally certified teacher of music in piano through the Music Teachers National Association and is certified by the Royal Conservatory of Music in both Piano and Music Theory. He has served on the executive boards of the Hawaii Music Teachers Association and the Honolulu Piano Teachers Association. His principle teachers of piano were Lisa Kim, Morton Estrin, Rose Tanner, Dolores Johnson (piano pedagogy), and Frank Iogha. He has also had special coaching sessions with David Breitman, Igor Kipnis, Eugenia Tsarov, Gregory Partain, Sanford Margolis, and Martin Canin. He received his BM in Piano and Music Education from the Crane School of Music (SUNY, Potsdam) and graduate degrees in Ethnomusicology (MA) and Music Librarianship (MLISc) from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. In 2020, Mr. Casano received the great honor of being awarded a 2020 Teacher of Distinction by the Royal Conservatory of Music.
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