Join us for the last (but certainly not least!) of our four Meet the Artist virtual concerts featuring our amazing CONNECT 2021 instructors!

Help us keep the CONNECT spirit going until we’re all able to get together safely in person once more – join us for an evening of performance and conversation on Zoom!

About Ryo

Ryo Shimamoto first encountered taiko at age 11 in his hometown of Yuasa in Wakayama Prefecture, where he still lives and performs taiko today. He led Shippu Uchi Daiko for 15 years and launched his career as a professional solo taiko performer and instructor in 2008. Ryo’s style of playing emphasizes sensitivity, power, and clarity. He received his odaiko training from former Kodo core player, Mr. Katsuji Kondo, and has won several awards for his odaiko performances at taiko competitions across Japan. Ryo is also an acclaimed composer whose pieces are performed by groups in Japan, Hong Kong, Europe, and the U.S.

Please join us

This is a FREE event, but you will need to register since there are a limited number of virtual seats available.

Register Here!

 

Please support this and future events!

If you are able to make a donation in order to support our artists as well as The Mark H Rooney Taiko School and its various future programs, it will be most appreciated! Not sure how much to give? We have humbly recommended a donation of between $10 – $20 for previous Meet the Artist events.

 

Join us for the third of four virtual Meet the Artist concerts featuring our amazing CONNECT 2021 instructors!

Help us keep the CONNECT spirit going until we’re all able to get together safely in person once more – join us for an evening of performance and conversation on Zoom!

In addition to Michelle and Toru, our Meet the Artist event will also feature the other members of Unit Souzou ensemble as part of the program.

About Michelle & Toru

Unit Souzou was founded in 2014 by Co-directors Michelle Fujii and Toru Watanabe, relentless innovators at the forefront of a growing artistic movement within the taiko community. They met at Warabi-za, Japan’s foremost traditional folk dance troupe located in Northern Japan. Michelle was awarded the prestigious Bunka-cho fellowship from the Japanese government. Toru was a professional company member appearing in six original musical productions and teaching within Warabiza’s in-house residency program for youth. Through their 25 years of professional experience, both have worked with numerous North American and international taiko groups including San Jose Taiko, On Ensemble, TaikoArts Midwest and Kagemusha Taiko in the UK.

About Unit Souzou

“Souzou” can be written in three ways meaning “creation” (創造), “imagination” (想像), or “noisy” (騒々), alluding to a force by which new ideas are born and take shape in the world. Inspired by these words, the mission of Unit Souzou is to build creative, imaginative works while honoring the history and roots of the taiko art form. The core of Unit Souzou’s artistic voice is personal and authentic, sound shaped and inspired by form and by movement. The essence of Unit Souzou is an expressive blend of taiko and Japanese folk dance, forging new traditions for evolving communities. In addition to creating groundbreaking professional theatrical works, Unit Souzou is deeply committed to share taiko through community performances and collaborations, public classes for adults and youth, and school-based education programs.

Please join us

This is a FREE event, but you will need to register since there are a limited number of virtual seats available.

Register Here!

 

Please support this and future events!

If you are able to make a donation in order to support our artists as well as The Mark H Rooney Taiko School and its various future programs, it will be most appreciated! Not sure how much to give? We have humbly recommended a donation of between $10 – $20 for previous Meet the Artist events.