Lots of updates on both the Performance Schedule and
the Workshops pages.
July 8th, 2010
Press Release
Internationally renowned Taiko Drumming group, Wadaiko Ensemble
Tokara from Japan is once again exploding onto the european arts scene
with a full concert called “Tenchi Shinmei” at St. John’s Church on
Princes Street from August 9 - 20, 2010 - each day, except thursdays,
at 7:30p.m.
The group tours internationally four to five times each
year...enchanting audiences in their native Japan, as well as
highlighted tours Off Broadway in New York and throughout the United
States, Canada, Taiwan, and India. The group has also performed in
many festivals throughout Europe, including the 5th U.K. Taiko
Festival in Exeter. This year, however, will be Tokara’s first full
concert tour here on the European continent.
The groups list of accolades is daunting given how young the group
is. Art Lee and Wadaiko Ensemble Tokara’s performance highlights
include: two-week run at Off Broadway in New York and at Carnegie
Hall, the Taiko All-Star Concert in Tokyo Aoyama, headlined at the
Taipei City 120th Anniversary and Kelowna City 100th Anniversary, and
many others. Of particular note is Tokara’s invitation to perform at
the single most influential taiko event of this century: The Asano
Taiko 400th Anniversary Concert in June 2009.
The leader of Wadaiko Ensemble Tokara, Art Lee, is renowned as one
of the leading taiko artist of our generation. Art Lee is the first
and still the only person in the world to be awarded an unsponsored
artist visa by the Japanese government to live in Japan as a
prefessional taiko performer, teacher and composer. He is also the
only non-Japanese person in history to ever win First Place at the
Tokyo International Taiko Competition. Tenchi Shinmei Official Website
