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

Virtual Sakura Taiko Fest

04.09.2020 by Linda Lombardi //

The Sakura Taiko Takeover at the Tidal Basin is our biggest event of the year. Part of the National Cherry Blossom Festival, if we’re lucky, it actually takes place among blooming cherry trees, as it did last year. While this year’s event was cancelled, we can still enjoy performances by some of the groups that were planning to participate through the magic of the internet.

Oto-Wa Taiko would have been our first guest group from outside the United States, traveling to DC from the Canadian capital. Oto-Wa Taiko members are celebrating the group’s 30th anniversary this year. The name Oto-Wa Taiko, while phonetically reflecting its community of origin, Ottawa, uses two Japanese characters, OTO (音) and WA (和). OTO means sound while WA means harmony. The character WA symbolizes the harmony of spirit among the players with their taiko as they make joyous sound together. Oto-Wa Taiko also conducts general interest taiko workshops and runs taiko classes for anyone interested in experiencing taiko first-hand.

River City Taiko is a community taiko group in Richmond, Virginia, and has been active for nearly ten years. The group gives lessons in traditional Japanese drumming, and performs at a number of events throughout the year in Central Virginia as well as Tidewater and the Charlottesville area. River City Taiko’s mission is to let people of all ages and backgrounds know that taiko is both something that they can enjoy and a community that they can become a part of. If you’d like to learn more, please visit River City Taiko on Facebook and Instagram.

 

Our neighbors Nen Daiko have performed at every Sakura Taiko event since the tradition began! Nen Daiko is the taiko ensemble of Ekoji Buddhist Temple in Fairfax Station, Virginia, and has been performing in the Washington DC metropolitan area for over 25 years.

While we don’t have video, we’d also like to give a shoutout to the other groups that were planning to travel to DC: Taiko Tides from Stony Brook, Columbia Taiko from Columbia University,  and the Swarthmore Taiko Ensemble. And stay tuned for another post with video of our Mark H Taiko groups!

 

 

 

Categories // Performances, Taiko Voices, Uncategorized Tags // DC, National Cherry Blossom Festival, performances, sakura taiko fest, Tidal Basin

[CANCELED] 2020 Sakura Taiko Takeover at the Tidal Basin

09.23.2019 by Heather Mitchell-Buck //

EVENT CANCELED

As you are probably aware, the coronavirus concerns in the DC area have escalated and the DC Department of Health has issued a notice advising against large gatherings through the end of March. As a result, the National Cherry Blossom Festival and National Park Service have canceled all events at the Tidal Basin Stage where our event was going to take place.

So, unfortunately we have no choice but to cancel our March 28 Sakura Taiko Takeover event. We’re really bummed about this, to say the least. We had hoped to move forward one way or another but unfortunately the city’s advisory against mass gatherings makes it impossible for us to find another venue. We may try to reschedule to a new date and don’t have a plan for that yet, but will be sure to keep everyone in the loop when and if that works out.

For now, keep calm and stay safe and healthy and we’ll see you all for our next Taiko Takeover in 2021!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

[Original event post below]

Join us among the cherry blossoms at the ANA Tidal Basin Stage for a full day of free, family-friendly Japanese drumming performances: the Sakura Taiko Takeover at the Tidal Basin!

This will be our third year at the Tidal Basin and we couldn’t be more excited to be back!

Support our performers and help make the Sakura Taiko Takeover possible!

100% of proceeds will go to covering the costs of the event and supporting the taiko groups traveling to the DC area.

Donate via PayPal

 

A full day of great taiko!

As always, we’re looking forward to an awesome lineup of community taiko groups from up and down the East Coast, showcasing a wide variety of styles of taiko for everyone to enjoy!

We’re excited to share our full lineup of performers here soon!

Getting to the Tidal Basin

We STRONGLY encourage you to take public transportation as driving and parking in the area is very difficult during Cherry Blossom season. The closest Metro stations are Smithsonian (accessible by the orange, blue, and silver lines) and L’Enfant Plaza (accessible by the orange, blue, silver, yellow, and green lines).  Both are about three blocks away.

About the event

The Sakura Taiko Fest started as a small festival in Maryland and has grown each year, showcasing a range of different drumming styles and celebrating Japanese cultural and artistic traditions. This year, for our 8th annual taiko fest, we’re thrilled to be back at the Tidal Basin with another full-day takeover of the ANA performance stage!

Stay tuned for lots more info to be shared here in the months ahead! 

Part of the

Tags // National Cherry Blossom Festival, sakura taiko fest, Tidal Basin

2020 Sakura Taiko Takeover Canceled

03.12.2020 by Heather Mitchell-Buck //

EVENT CANCELED  🙁

As you are probably aware, the coronavirus concerns in the DC area have escalated and the DC Department of Health has issued a notice advising against large gatherings through the end of March. As a result, the National Cherry Blossom Festival and National Park Service have canceled all events at the Tidal Basin Stage where our event was going to take place.

So, unfortunately we have no choice but to cancel our March 28 Sakura Taiko Takeover event. We’re really bummed about this, to say the least. We had hoped to move forward one way or another, but unfortunately the city’s advisory against mass gatherings makes it impossible for us to find another venue. We may try to reschedule to a new date and don’t have a plan for that yet, but will be sure to keep everyone in the loop when and if that works out.

Thanks so much to all of the groups who had made plans to perform with us and all of the folx who have worked long and hard over the years to make this an awesome event that we look forward to every spring.

Keep calm, stay safe and healthy, and we’ll see you all for our next Taiko Takeover in 2021!

Categories // Performances Tags // National Cherry Blossom Festival, sakura taiko fest

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • Next Page »

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

Sat 30

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

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

View More…

Connect

  • Facebook
  • Flickr
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Instagram

markhtaiko

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
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