Apricity Trio
From the Latin apricus, meaning “warmed by the sun”
Apricity Trio is a U.S. and Japanese-based trio for flute, clarinet, and percussion. With roots dating to their shared time in graduate school, Tracy, Chiho, and James reconnected in 2015 as a unique ensemble with concerts and residencies in Japan and the U.S. every year since. Often collaborating with sculpturist Koshi Hayashi, pianist Kiki Kashiwagi, and composer Ippo Tsuboi, Apricity Trio is dedicated to performing programmatic works reflective of the austere nature of the American west and the minimalist and ancient beauty of Japan.
The respective cultures and mutual friendship of the three musicians is uniquely combined in collaborative, harmonious, and multimedia settings. Be it the concert halls of Tokyo, salon concerts throughout the U.S., forested venues for arts festivals amongst sculptures in the mountains of Japan, or in faculty exchange concerts at Gunma University, Japan, Adams State University, and the University of Puget Sound, Apricity Trio maintains a light-hearted, flexible, and accessible repertoire for all audiences.
They released their first CD titled Sandhill Crane in December 2018, with works by Ippo Tsuboi, Daniel Dorff, Jean Rivier, Valerie Naranjo, Robert Muczynski, Jenni Brandon, and Bill Douglas.
Contact James Doyle to Purchase Sandhill Crane
The Musicians
Tracy Doyle, flute
Dr. Tracy Doyle is the Director of the School of Music and Professor of Flute at University of Puget Sound. Advocacy, equity, and community engagement are at the heart of Tracy’s work as a musician, educator, and leader. Having taught at a variety of levels from kindergarten through university and beyond, her holistic philosophy of music education inextricably links education with performance.
Collaboration is at the core of Tracy’s creative activity as a flutist. As a member of the Japanese-American Apricity Trio with clarinetist Chiho Sugo and percussionist James Doyle, she has performed extensively throughout the United States and Japan. She performs regularly with the New Mexico Performing Arts Society in Santa Fe, and has performed with Symphony Tacoma, Lake Washington Symphony Orchestra, and Vashon Opera. Tracy is also a regular performer at the National Flute Association Convention.
Tracy earned her Doctor of Musical Arts degree in flute performance from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, and her Master of Music and Bachelor of Music degrees in music education from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. In her free time Tracy enjoys ceramics, hiking, kayaking, yoga, cooking, and spending time outside in the beautiful Pacific Northwest.
Chiho Sugo, clarinet
Chiho Sugo is Associate Professor of Clarinet at Gunma University, Japan teaches applied clarinet and wind instruments as well as Music Education related courses, including Japanese Traditional Instruments, Basic Conducting, and Elementary Music Education Methods. As an active clarinetist, she gives characteristic chamber recitals regularly in and around Tokyo. Her colorful and well-pitched E-flat clarinet has been well received not only as a member of “Tokyo Clarinet Choir” but also as a E-flat soloist at conferences abroad. Her first CD, Brahms Album “Regenlied” (2014) includes Violin Sonata played on E-flat clarinet. Apricity Trio; with Tracy
Doyle (flute) and James Doyle (perc) was formed in 2019 and released the CD “Sandhill Crane” (2019). Apricity Trio has commissioned works from composer Ippo Tsuboi, leading to the expansion of the ensemble's repertoire of irregular compositions. In recent years, Chiho has also been exploring creative activities that are not bound by existing performance formats, such as collaborations in sculpture exhibition spaces (Chiho Sugo Recital 2024, Koshi Hayashi Sculpture Exhibition 2019, Nakanojo Biennale 2023) and improvisations with dance performances (Adam Benjamin, Chieko Matsumura 2019). She earned her Master of Music at Morehead State University, and completed Doctoral coursework at Louisiana State University. She studied clarinet with Steve Cohen, Michael Acord, Ikuo Inagaki, Sugako Sudo, and Takafumi Komatsu. A technical instructor for the clarinet section of the Japan Coast Guard Band, a member of the International Clarinet Association (ICA), a board member of the Japan Clarinet Association (JCA), and a member of the Japan Society of Wind Music and Arts.
James Doyle, percussion