Gift of 96 Paper Cranes from Eriko
Read the story by Kristin Tillotson in the Star Tribune
Eriko Matsukawa, a blind English translator from Miyagi, Japan, sent a package containing the cranes (pictured at left) to the Musicians. She personally folded each crane (96 total) to represent each member of the Minnesota Orchestra. Included in the package was a letter as well as a large donation to the musicians fund. Orchestra member Sachiya Isomura brings the cranes to the full orchestra meetings each week as a reminder of her steadfast courage and hope. The Musicians responded to Eriko’s generous and thoughtful donation by flooding her email with thank you notes, recording voice thank you messages, as well as sending her hand written letters.
Link to the letter (original translation from braille)
Link to the letter (transcribed from the original translation)
Here is another special thank you to our Japanese “Superfan”:
Dear Eriko,
We want to thank you so much for your very generous and spontaneous donation to our difficult struggle. We fear we cannot write as eloquently as you do, but we very much want to thank you and to tell how much your contribution—and especially your words—have meant to us.
So often, after a concert, we leave the concert hall unaware of how our music may have affected listeners. We always try to do our best for the great music we are privileged to play. And we always hope that audiences are moved and their lives inspired by the music we love. But rarely do we hear from someone who has been touched so directly and profoundly as you.
We are humbled by your kindness. We cherish the letter you sent. Your faith in us and in our ability to make music gives us strength to fight for our orchestra.
We will be thinking of you when we play Beethoven’s 9th Symphony on December 15th and 16th.
With our deepest thanks and gratitude,
The Musicians of the Minnesota Orchestra
The Musicians of the Minnesota Orchestra are thankful and incredibly moved by our audiences, volunteers and supporters who made our sold-out Ode to Joy concerts truly special and joyful. Pioneer Press reviewer Rob Hubbard perhaps said it best when he said, “This is why we need orchestras.”
