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Mark H Rooney Taiko

Taiko Instructor & Performer

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Support the Future of Taiko in DC

12.20.2020 by Mark H //

CONNECT 2020 limited edition thank-you shirt

This year, 2020, will forever be marked by its various challenges – on both a global scale and on a very personal front. Each of us has been confronted by and made to bear the burdens of a national reckoning, a global pandemic, a struggling economy, and the test of our own demons.

By comparison, the problems facing a small arts entity in the DC area are minuscule. I feel fortunate for that. I also feel a deep sense of gratitude for the communities I am surrounded by: my wife, of course, and my family and friends, but also the global taiko community, the community of local artists, and most immediately, my Mark H Taiko community. I appreciate the members of Miyako Taiko for continuing to value the connections we build together (even from a distance), the students and audiences for their continued support and generosity, and my fellow taiko artists for helping to weather this long, cold night together.

Truth be told, a low point for me this year was having to cancel CONNECT 2020, which had been scheduled for this past summer. It was going to be a high point of my year … and it just couldn’t happen. But it was so uplifting that a large majority of the folx who were registered opted to keep their spots in the event as we look forward to presenting it NEXT summer (and YES, we are optimistically – and with a LOT of consideration for safety and comfort – still hoping to CONNECT in 2021!). Our amazing slate of workshop leaders have ALL agreed to stay on, and we have been re-imagining how to hold this event in our current climate without compromising its mission or quality.

I know that there are many great causes to consider at this time – indeed, for many of us now, the cause is just to stay afloat. I would encourage those of you who can do so to continue to support those in need – those who lost jobs due to the pandemic; those whose businesses took a hit or had to close; restaurants, artists, and entertainers; and of course those on the front lines including the heroic medical staff fighting daily to keep us all healthy and safe.

And if you are able to support the optimism, the hope, and the future for CONNECT and other future taiko events as we make our way to a “New Normal” – one where we don’t take anything for granted and we can be thankful for something as simple as sharing taiko with friends both old and new – please do consider making a contribution to Mark H Taiko.

As a gift for your support, and also as a reminder that optimism is a powerful force, for your donation of $35, I’d like to send you a LIMITED EDITION CONNECT 2020 t-shirt. This token of my sincere gratitude will be sent out to supporters in early 2021 – so if you’d like to receive one, please be sure to click the button below before February 1st!

Get your t-shirt here!

Wishing everyone happy (and SAFE) holidays and a happy & hopeful new year!
— Mark H
Mark H Taiko School logo

Categories // CONNECT 2020, Updates Tags // CONNECT 2021

Our next Meet the Artist Virtual Concert!

12.04.2020 by Heather Mitchell-Buck //

Thanks to everyone who joined us for our first-ever VIRTUAL Meet the Artist event in November with Yurika Chiba! It was great to see so many familiar faces from our local taiko community as well as new and old friends from farther afield!

We are excited to announce the next event in this special series 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 and join us for an evening of performance and conversation on Zoom.

These are FREE concerts, but you will need to register since there are a limited number of virtual seats available.

Next up … David Wells!

David Wells

Sunday, December 20, 2020
8:00pm EST

More info

WITH MORE GREAT EVENTS COMING SOON!

Next up is Unit Souzou in January 2021 and Ryo Shimamoto in February 2021. Stay tuned – all the details on those events are coming your way soon.

We can’t wait to hear these awesome artists play some of their favorite pieces, share works-in-progress, discuss their influences, answer audience questions, and more – and we hope you can join us!

Categories // Performances Tags // CONNECT 2021, Meet the Artist

Meet the Artist: Yurika Chiba

11.03.2020 by Heather Mitchell-Buck //

Join us for the first 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!

About Yurika

Yurika ChibaYurika Chiba began playing taiko in Tokushima, Japan in 1995 and joined San Jose Taiko’s Artistic Staff in 2007. As part of SJT, she performs locally, nationally, and internationally, leads rehearsals, classes, and workshops, and composes original works. She is a regular instructor at the North American Taiko Conferences, and was a panelist at the Women & Taiko Summer Taiko Institute in 2017 as well as a featured performer at HERbeat in February 2020.

As a visual artist with a degree in Psychology, Yurika is deeply interested in the connection between tactile/rhythmic aesthetics and creativity in art and music as well as the applications of taiko/art to holistic and mental health. Yurika’s background in piano, dance, mixed media art, psychology and certification in TESOL combine in a unique mix to inform her work with taiko as an instrument for the individual’s expression of self and connection to community.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by San Jose Taiko (@sanjosetaiko) on Jan 10, 2020 at 6:17pm PST


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.

 

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@MarkHRooney

Tags // CONNECT 2021, Meet the Artist

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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...]

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Events & Workshops

Sat 30

Meet the Artist: Michelle Fujii & Toru Watanabe of Unit Souzou

January 30 @ 8:00 PM - 9:30 PM
United States

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Random Acts of Taiko

Happy New Year! Look - shiny and new! A new year n Happy New Year! Look - shiny and new! A new year now and... nothing is different... Still a pandemic, still political ridiculousness, still unemployed. But somehow, I have a sense of optimism for the future! Forward and forward, 2021!! #forwardandforward
“...it’s been emotional...” Trying not to lo “...it’s been emotional...” Trying not to lose the hard-learned lessons of this year but really ready to move forward. #2020weOUT
Our small Christmas crew befits our little Holiday Our small Christmas crew befits our little Holiday Celebration. Wishing everyone near and far a Happy, Healthy and Peaceful Holiday Season and Hopeful 2021 - From Kristen, Mark, Roxie, Bella, and Rocket #randomactsofliving #HolidaySeason2020
A person of distinguished tastes... No, we are not A person of distinguished tastes... No, we are not selling fine scotch but our next #MeetTheArtist guest will be DAVID WELLS!! And he recommends enjoying the experience with a.) scotch, b.) chai tea, or c.) Dr. Pepper (“in descending order of pomp” - Mark H). Join us next Sunday, Dec 20th at 8 PM EST! For more details and to register: markhtaiko.com  #MeettheArtistDavidWells #MHTpresents #randomactsoftaiko
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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…
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