Mark H Rooney banner
Mark H Rooney mobile banner

Mark H Rooney Taiko

Taiko Instructor & Performer

  • About
    • What Is Taiko?
    • Mark H Bio
    • Hire Mark H
      • Workshops
    • Publicity Kit
  • Learn Taiko
    • Outdoor Workshops
    • Adult Recreational Taiko Class: Takoma Park
    • Advanced Skills Class
    • What’s Class Like?
    • Student Resources
  • See Taiko
    • Meet the Artist
    • Miyako Taiko
      • Member Resources
    • Sakura Taiko Fest
  • Media
    • Photos & Video
    • Press & Interviews
  • Blog
  • CONNECT 2020
    • Instructors
    • Stay CONNECTed
  • Calendar
  • Contact
You are here: Home / About Mark H / Publicity Kit

Publicity Kit

Mark H Rooney, Taiko Instructor and Performer

markh@markhtaiko.com

Artist’s Bio

Mark H Rooney – “the world’s most dangerous half-Japanese/half-Scottish solo improvisational taiko artist” – has been studying, performing, and teaching taiko for the past 20 years in the US, Japan and Europe. He was the Artistic Director of Odaiko New England, the founding instructor for Wesleyan University’s taiko program, and a touring member of Taikoza. Mark has collaborated with a wide variety of artists and groups including Tiger Okoshi, Opera unMet, UpRooted Dance, Arts on the Horizon, and ilyAIMY. He now lives in the Washington DC area, continuing with his mission: “taiko for all people at all levels.”

Photos

Click photo to go to hi-res version

MHR shime
MHR shime
Matsuri
Matsuri
Dedication of Japanese Stone Lantern, Tidal Basin
Dedication of Japanese Stone Lantern, Tidal Basin
Dedication of Japanese Stone Lantern, Tidal Basin
Dedication of Japanese Stone Lantern, Tidal Basin
Mark H Rooney
Mark H Rooney

 

Selected Press Coverage

Discover Nikkei, June 22, 2015

  • “East Coasters on the Taiko Scene”

Associated Press, October 7, 2014:

  • “Taiko Drumming is a full-body experience”

Takoma Park Folk Festival, August 15, 2012:

  • Interview

New City Patch, February 10, 2012:

  • “Clarkstown North Japanese Club Holds Taiko Drumming Workshop”

 

Curriculum Vitae

Professional Experience

  • Instructor, Great Falls Elementary School Taiko Program, Fairfax, VA (Feb 2014 – Present)
  • North American Taiko Conference Organizing Committee Member (2013 – Present)
  • Tour Manager, Ryo Shimamoto North American Workshop Tour (2012 – Present)
  • Director, Mark H Taiko School (2011 – Present)
  • Affiliated Teacher, House of Musical Traditions, Takoma Park, MD (2011 – Present)
  • Performing Member, Kizuna, Washington, DC (2011 – Present)
  • Group Leader, Lakeville Youth Taiko, Lakeville, MA (2009 – 2011)
  • Instructor, Summer Arts Intensive Youth Program, Roxbury, MA (2007 – 2011)
  • Artistic/Executive Director, Odaiko New England, Boston, MA (2008 – 2010)
  • Founding Instructor, Wesleyan University Taiko Program, Middleton, CT (2006 – 2010)
  • Instructor, Concord-Carlisle High School Taiko Program and Advisor, Taiko After Dark, Concord, MA (2005 – 2010)
  • Instructor, Allston Boys and Girls Club After School Taiko Program, Allston, MA (2005)
  • Assistant Artistic Director, Odaiko New England, Boston, MA (2004 – 2007)
  • Assistant Tour Manager, Kodo One Earth North American Tour (2005)
  • Staff, Kodo Arts Sphere America (KASA)/Mix Japan Tour (2003)
  • Staff, Kodo Earth Celebration (2002 – 2005)

Selected Workshop Clients

  • Blue Man Group, Boston, MA
  • East Coast Taiko Conference
  • The Genki Spark, Boston, MA
  • Mugen, Clarkstown High School, Clarkstown, NY
  • North American Taiko Conference
  • Philadelphia Taiko Center, Philadelphia, PA
  • ShinDaiko, Boston, MA
  • Shippu Uchi Daiko, Wakayama, Japan
  • Taiko Tides, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
  • UConn Taiko, Storrs, CT
  • Wellesley University Aiko, Wellesley, MA
  • Yamatai, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY

Performance Highlights

  • Boston Center for the Arts’ Summer Concert Series
  • Boston Children’s Museum
  • Boston Red Sox National Anthem (with Tiger Okoshi)
  • Cambridge Dragon Boat Festival, Cambridge, MA
  • Cultural Series presented by Macy’s, National Aquarium, Baltimore, MD
  • Dedication of Japanese Lantern Plaza, Tidal Basin, Washington, DC
  • Diplomatic Events at Japanese Ambassador’s Residence, Washington, DC
  • Flower Mart at National Cathedral, Washington, DC
  • Japan Society of Boston Annual Dinner
  • Manjiro Festival, Fairhaven, MA
  • National Cherry Blossom Festival Sakura Matsuri
  • Opera in the Outfield, Washington National Opera at Nationals Park, Washington, DC
  • PABU @ The Four Seasons, Baltimore, MD
  • Peabody Essex Museum, Boston, MA
  • Taikoza tours in US, Europe, and Russia
  • Takoma Park Folk Festival, Takoma Park, MD
  • Third Annual North American Taiko Conference, Los Angeles, CA
  • Wesleyan University Commencement with Barack Obama in attendance
  • Washington, DC Folk Festival
  • WNBA Half Time Show, Mohegan Sun, Uncaseville, CT
  • And more than 100 school performances

Performance Collaboration Highlights

  • with Lumina Studio Theatre: Kabuki Coriolanus, Silver Spring, MD
  • with Nen Daiko, Ekoji Buddhist Temple Obon Matsuri, Fairfax, VA
  • with Nobuko Miyazaki: US Botanic Garden 1000 Bloom Chrysanthemum Festival, Washington, DC
  • with Opera UnMet: The Ties that Bind MLK Celebrations, Boston, MA and New York, NY
  • with UpRooted Dance: Performance at Millennium Stage, Kennedy Center, Washington, DC

Education and Taiko Training

  • B.A., Boston University
  • Ryo Shimamoto, Shippu Uchi Daiko
  • Eiichi Saito, Kodo
  • Elaine Fong, Odaiko New England

Influential Teachers

  • Masato Baba
  • Russell Baba
  • Kris Bergstrom
  • Kenny Endo
  • Michelle Fujii
  • Yoko Fujimoto
  • Yoshikazu Fujimoto
  • Patrick Graham
  • Eitetsu Hayashi
  • Shoji Kameda
  • Seido Kobayashi
  • Chieko Kojima
  • Marco Leinhard
  • Jeannie Mercer
  • Yosuke Oda
  • Tiffany Tamaribuchi
  • Kaoru Watanabe

Meet the Artist Series

meet the artist

Join world-renowned taiko artists in an informal, intimate … read more

Taiko Voices

Mark H Taiko’s First Online “Meet the Artist” by Lee Blank

December 8, 2020 By Linda Lombardi

Building community and supporting other artists are founding principles of … [Read More...]

Subscribe

Sign up to get Taiko Voices in your Inbox!

Events & Workshops

There are no upcoming events at this time.

Connect

  • Facebook
  • Flickr
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Instagram

markhtaiko

Random Acts of Taiko

TONIGHT!! In less than 7 hours, (at 8 PM Eastern S TONIGHT!! In less than 7 hours, (at 8 PM Eastern Standard Time, tonight, Friday, 2/19) - Ryo Shimamoto takes to the Meet the Artist screen! Please register ahead of time: https://www.markhrooney.com/event/meet-the-artist-ryo-shimamoto/ See you soon!
Just THREE DAYS!! Feb 19th, 8 PM EST, join us for Just THREE DAYS!! Feb 19th, 8 PM EST, join us for our fourth virtual “Meet the Artist” featuring the (intended) Artists of CONNECT2020! This one is close to my heart as it features my remarkable teacher and taiko-brother Ryo Shimamoto @jdryo!  As it will be Saturday morning in Japan (where he is joining us from), Ryo is recommending lemon tea but also encourages pear cider (which he can’t find in his area but we got him hooked on back at Kristen’s and my wedding...!) Pull up a sofa, set up a viewing device with good sound and get your drink on as we #MeetTheArtist this Friday! #MarkHTaikopresents  https://www.markhrooney.com/event/meet-the-artist-ryo-shimamoto/
Our very first INTERNATIONAL “Meet the Artist” Our very first INTERNATIONAL “Meet the Artist” event features Ryo Shimamoto @jdryo , my teacher from Wakayama, Japan! I can’t BEGIN to convey how excited I am for this - Ryo is not only a talented taiko teacher and artist but is also an endlessly engaging taiko-talker! See you Feb 19, 8 PM EST (Eastern Standard Time - please check for local time). Space in LIMITED so sign up today HERE: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYld-iurj0qHdVyTh_3ufvvyD-rk9FgNtDG  #markhtaikopresents #MeetTheArtist #withryoshimamoto
THIS SATURDAY at 8 PM EST! Mark H Taiko presents a THIS SATURDAY at 8 PM EST! Mark H Taiko presents another in our virtual “Meet the Artist” series - featuring Michelle Fujii and Toru Watanabe AND Unit Souzou ensemble! #virtualMeettheArtist #MHTpresents #unitsouzou
Load More... Follow on Instagram

About Mark H

Mark H Rooney studies, performs, and teaches taiko: a dynamic form of full-body drumming based in Japanese tradition. Mark combines that traditional foundation with a modern sensibility to create performances and classes that are full of energy, endurance, and excitement!

Interested in bringing taiko to your school, organization, or event? Contact Mark H. Mark will work with you to tailor a workshop or performance to meet your needs…
#randomactsoftaiko

Archives

MHTX

 

Links

Proud artist of

© 2021 Mark H Rooney · Built on the Genesis Framework · by Terry Buck Art