PROFILE


Art Lee, artist and performer of the Japanese art form known as taiko (wadaiko),
is the first non-Japanese ever to obtain an artist visa from the Japanese government
to lead the life of a professional taiko artist in Japan.

Art Lee first began the study of taiko in 1993 from the Sacramento Taiko Dan
with whom he later became a featured performer and instructor.  
He later joined one of the world's most famed taiko groups, Za Ondekoza,
for their U.S. and Japan Tour, which culminated in a landmark concert at Carnegie Hall.

   Art Lee became a solo performer after moving to Japan in 1998.  
And on November 14th, 2001, Art exploded onto the world scene
when he became the first person in the world ever to be granted an
unsponsored artist visa from the Japanese government to teach, perform,
and lead the life of a Professional Taiko Artist in Japan.

   On October 15th, 2005, Art took another massive step in the world of Taiko
once again when he became the first non-Japanese to win
First Place in the Solo Odaiko section of the most prestigious and
renowned taiko contest in the world - The Tokyo International Wadaiko Contest.

   In addition to his teaching and solo performing schedule,
he is the resident instructor of various local taiko groups in Japan
including Koihime Daiko and Tento.  He is also the Founder and
Artistic Director of Wadaiko Ensemble TOKARA, whom he has lead
to become one of Japan's most unique taiko groups, touring nationally and
internationally two to four times a year.  
Art is also a performing member of Osuwa Daiko - Ashura-Gumi,
which is lead by Grandmaster Daihachi Oguchi, the person who is famed for
creating taiko as a performance art over 50 years ago.

      Utilizing his extensive training in both traditional and modern taiko techniques,
Art Lee continues to perform all over the world, as well as teach in both
English and Japanese to taiko enthusiasts and newcomers alike.  
He has also composed music for various events within Japan and abroad,
including the 2002 Beijing World Music Festival, the 120th Anniversary of
Taipei City in 2004, and the 2005 and 2006 World Festival in Music and Dance.  
His concert tours, compositions, and workshops are requested repeatedly.  
Highly acclaimed concert tours to date include: EXISTENSION,
Fuyu no Kodama (Winter's Echo), Michikusa, Toward the Undiscovered Country, and more.
Art Lee has performed twice in the world's most highly acclaimed and distinguished
taiko concert, the Aoyama Kenbunroku...once with Grandmaster Daihachi Oguchi in 2004,
and once as a solo performer in 2006.

    Among his many disciplines of the art, he has become most widely known for his
Odaiko solos, and his unique style and solo while performing
on the drum sideways, called Yokomen-uchi.



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