On June 8 and 9, Makoto Taiko will celebrate its 20th anniversary and the community and musical momentum that has propelled it to reach such an important organizational and artistic benchmark by hosting two performances of its 20th Anniversary Concert: Momentum at the Arcadia Performing Arts Foundation (188 Campus Drive, Arcadia, CA 91007).
Locally-based musical ensemble Makoto Taiko began its journey of growth, community collaboration and cultural performance in 1999. Twenty years ago, Makoto Taiko was a children’s and youth club at Pasadena’s Shumei America. Today, two decades later, it has become a self-sustaining, independent, non-profit organization enabling hundreds of enthusiasts to enrich their creativity, hone their rhythmic skills, boost their physical fitness, and perform in myriad cultural and educational events.
Makoto Taiko now boasts over 70 members—most of whom will be performing in the concerts. The 20th Anniversary Concert: Momentum will showcase:
- Koji Nakamura sensei, a Grammy Award-winning Taiko master—who is one of Makoto Taiko’s original leaders—performing solo and ensemble works he has composed, as well as traditional pieces, that document his Taiko journey from Japan to the vibrant US Taiko community.
- Guest artist Shoji Kameda, a Grammy Award-nominated Taiko artist and leading North American Taiko player, founding member of On Ensemble Taiko, guest artist with the jazz fusion group Hiroshima, and partner in KaDON—the world’s premiere online Taiko learning environment. He will be performing solo and ensemble arrangements of his compositions and a traditional Taiko repertoire with various Makoto Taiko formations.
- Nationally renowned musicians Rachel Rudich and Kozue Matsumoto, who will be playing shakuhachi and koto—two traditional Japanese musical instruments—in accompaniment with the ensemble.
- Musical arrangements by the Makoto Taiko membership corps, including A/I, its semi-professional performance ensemble, and its Community Performing Group (CPG): some of which will involve over 20 drummers performing awe-inspiring Taiko music and movement compositions concurrently.
Tickets for this performance range from $15 to $40. For more information, click here.
