The key to happiness

Shoko Kinsella, a piano lecturer, performed in concert Sunday in the Performing Arts Complex Auditorium on the Edinburg campus. She continues to pursue her musical career and hopes to inspire students who are interested in music to do the same. 

Kinsella was exposed to music at a young age. She admired the complexity of it as well as performing.

“I’ve been playing since 4 years old, so I’d say [I’ve been playing music] more than 30 years,” Kinsella said in an interview last Thursday. “I started with a Yamaha groove piano ,which incorporated a lot of rhythmic aspects and ensembles, so I got to play with percussion and electric keyboards, which make different sounds. I was interested in playing with other people, as well as solo stuff.”

Born and raised in Chiba, Japan, Kinsella lived in a community where musical culture is prominent. She also attended piano lessons consistently. 

“I was born and raised in Japan, central part of Japan, in Chiba. [It] is right next to Tokyo, in a suburban area, so they have a lot to offer as musical culture goes,” she said. “I was in Yamaha group lessons and later on, I took private piano lessons throughout my teenage and high school [years].”

Kinsella and her family moved to the United States for two years. She graduated from high school in Cincinnati, Ohio. She moved back to Japan but later returned to the U.S. to get her bachelor’s degree in music from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music.

 “I got to spend some time in my high school in the states, where my father was sent to an American company in Cincinnati, Ohio.” she said. “My family came over to spend about two years in the states. I came back again by myself to start the bachelor of music in Cincinnati Conservatory and from then on, I’ve been in the states for a long time, since 2001.”

Since she has started performing, Kinsella has played in many venues, including Carnegie Hall.

“The biggest [accomplishment] that I’ve done so far was that I went and performed in Carnegie Hall back in 2010,” Kinsella said. “And I played some solo repertoire, which is quite fun.  It was on Halloween day and there were a lot of [people]. The program had nothing to do with Halloween, but I had a great time performing there.”

Kinsella’s show is a part of the College of Fine Arts Faculty Artist Series, which are free and open to the public. She performed works by J.S. Bach, Beethoven and Takemitsu.

“Regularly, I perform here in [the] Performing Arts Complex or any other venues around the town, either as a soloist or chamber musician collaborator,” she said. “… I also perform [with] students as well, so when the students are doing their concerts or degree recitals, I play with them. I regularly coach them as well.”

For Kinsella, performing is an ever-changing experience that allows her to express her creativity.

“It’s exciting,” she said. “Every time is a different experience. It’s exciting because on stage it’s so fun to explore different parts, my own creativity [and] creative side of myself just to challenge myself in that regard and see how far I can go to express myself and be creative on stage. And also be able to connect with the audience is another exciting part of performing.”