Midnight Taiko Kai - Calgary, Alberta

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Performing members

Angela

Angela first experienced the thrill of taiko at a cultural event held by the East Asian Studies department at the University of Alberta. After graduating from University, she moved to rural Japan with the JET Programme and was again captivated by taiko groups at countless local festivals. When she returned to Canada she settled in Calgary and stumbled across Midnight Taiko at a summer festival. After attending a workshop, she was hooked! She was offered the chance to be an apprentice with the group, and has been drumming patterns on any flat surface she can get her hands on ever since!

Ben

Ben has played taiko since 1998, playing freestyle in city parks and cultural events. He is also an Aikido instructor teaching at SAIT and Northland Gold's Gym. He also loves to do ballroom and Latino dancing and loves to stay on the beat.

Hoa

Hoa instantly wanted to learn taiko after experiencing its 'genkiness' and fervor in festivals (matsuri) when he was living and working in Japan in 2004 in the small city of Hitachi. Initially dismissed because of the language barrier (ouch!), in 2005 he finally conjured enough Japanese to join and study taiko with Hitachi Taiko no kai. In 2006, Hoa continued practicing taiko when he moved to Toronto. After coming back from an abrupt assignment overseas, in 2007 he relocated to Calgary, and is excited to continue practicing taiko with Midnight!

Jenny

Jenny has a background in traditional Chinese dance, choir and classical piano. Her 14 years of experience in music serves as a solid background, while taiko allows her to expand her musical horizons. She especially enjoys the fact that playing taiko allows her to immerse herself in the beat of the drum and become part of the rhythm.

Melina

Melina first heard Taiko when she was about 8 years old at the Edmonton Heritage Days, where Kita No Taiko plays annually, and loved how she could feel the music. This sparked an interest in drumming and rhythms that eventually led her to apprentice with Kita No Taiko for about a year. When Melina moved to Calgary she happened to get the chance to take a workshop with Midnight Taiko, which started another apprenticeship. She is proud to be a part of this growing and dynamic group of drummers.

Paula

[blurb coming!]

Peggy

Peggy first heard taiko at Otafest in 2006. When she returned in 2007 she made sure that she was able to watch as well. She loved the rhythm, the energy and the volume. Not only was it Japanese but it was fun! She grabbed the courage to try it out at the end of the performance and was hooked. After attending a workshop, she was determined to rearrange her work schedule so she could join the group... she later managed it. She rarely plays the piano anymore, and loves getting together with everyone to play and learn new rhythms. "I feel like a kid again!"

Rico

Rico was first exposed to Taiko while living in Borneo as a child in 1993, when a Japanese Drumming Troupe visited the region as part of a Cultural Performance. Fast forward over a decade later in the ski-hills of Banff; where his first meeting with Jenny led from polite small-talk to an enthusiastic conversation of Oriental culture and Taiko. An invite to one of her group’s practices -- where they demonstrated their signature piece"Himatsuri" -- got Rico immediately hooked. It has now been some time since Rico started his apprenticeship with Midnight Taiko, and he continues to be captivated by the energy and rhythm of his new Taiko family.

Victor

Serendipity is how Victor came to fall in love with Taiko.
"I was driving around Calgary showing the town to some friends from the Yukon, when I heard a drumming! Immediately, I am pulling my guests towards the sound. I try to peek through the door, but am unable to see. To solve this problem, I knock on the door, introduce myself, and ask for a performance! To my surprise this Taiko group welcomes us with open arms and larger than life smiles. They perform for us, and even go so far as to start teaching us how to play. I am immediately taken in by this warm, fun group, and have been part of it ever since."
He says that taiko is a sparkling jewel that has added to the mosaic of his life.
Initiative, persistence, and discipline are three things he lives by. Fun and working hard is the underlying factor for him. He has a Business Administration Diploma with a major in marketing, coupled with work experience in a management background. He is currently working towards his real estate license, and looks forward to jumping into the industry with a flying kick!
"Taiko infuses me with culture, music, soul, and a fluidity of wicked vibrant beats! I believe in not only feeling the beats but making the BEATS of LIFE!"

Yoshiko

Yoshiko has always been proud to be half Japanese and Taiko has become a great link to her heritage. She became interested in Taiko when she saw her first performance in Edmonton in the late '80's but it wasn't until 1998 when she moved to Toronto that she was able to take Taiko lessons with "Yakudo, Traditional Japanese Drummers". After 8 months she auditioned for the group and became a member playing and teaching Taiko with them for 8 years. After moving to Calgary and taking 2 years off she is happy to get back to drumming. Yoshiko is also a professional actor and has a family with two young children that keep her very busy.

Apprentices

Teri-Lynn

[blurb coming!]

Probationary Members

Hitoshi

[blurb coming!]

Jody

[blurb coming!]

Former / Honourary Members

Former and honourary members can be found here

Contact

For booking information, questions or comments please contact us: midnight.taiko@gmail.com

» home:: info :: :: members :: calendar:: links «


» home:: info :: members :: calendar:: links «
Performing members Angela Angela first experienced the thrill of taiko at a cultural event held by the East Asian Studies department at the University of Alberta. After graduating from University, she moved to rural Japan with the JET Programme and was again captivated by taiko groups at countless local festivals. When she returned to Canada she settled in Calgary and stumbled across Midnight Taiko at a summer festival. After attending a workshop, she was hooked! She was offered the chance to be an apprentice with the group, and has been drumming patterns on any flat surface she can get her hands on ever since! Ben Ben has played taiko since 1998, playing freestyle in city parks and cultural events. He is also an Aikido instructor teaching at SAIT and Northland Gold's Gym. He also loves to do ballroom and Latino dancing and loves to stay on the beat. Hoa Hoa instantly wanted to learn taiko after experiencing its 'genkiness' and fervor in festivals (matsuri) when he was living and working in Japan in 2004 in the small city of Hitachi. Initially dismissed because of the language barrier (ouch!), in 2005 he finally conjured enough Japanese to join and study taiko with Hitachi Taiko no kai. In 2006, Hoa continued practicing taiko when he moved to Toronto. After coming back from an abrupt assignment overseas, in 2007 he relocated to Calgary, and is excited to continue practicing taiko with Midnight! Jenny Jenny has a background in traditional Chinese dance, choir and classical piano. Her 14 years of experience in music serves as a solid background, while taiko allows her to expand her musical horizons. She especially enjoys the fact that playing taiko allows her to immerse herself in the beat of the drum and become part of the rhythm. Melina Melina first heard Taiko when she was about 8 years old at the Edmonton Heritage Days, where Kita No Taiko plays annually, and loved how she could feel the music. This sparked an interest in drumming and rhythms that eventually led her to apprentice with Kita No Taiko for about a year. When Melina moved to Calgary she happened to get the chance to take a workshop with Midnight Taiko, which started another apprenticeship. She is proud to be a part of this growing and dynamic group of drummers. Paula [blurb coming!] Peggy Peggy first heard taiko at Otafest in 2006. When she returned in 2007 she made sure that she was able to watch as well. She loved the rhythm, the energy and the volume. Not only was it Japanese but it was fun! She grabbed the courage to try it out at the end of the performance and was hooked. After attending a workshop, she was determined to rearrange her work schedule so she could join the group... she later managed it. She rarely plays the piano anymore, and loves getting together with everyone to play and learn new rhythms. "I feel like a kid again!" Rico Rico was first exposed to Taiko while living in Borneo as a child in 1993, when a Japanese Drumming Troupe visited the region as part of a Cultural Performance. Fast forward over a decade later in the ski-hills of Banff; where his first meeting with Jenny led from polite small-talk to an enthusiastic conversation of Oriental culture and Taiko. An invite to one of her group’s practices -- where they demonstrated their signature piece"Himatsuri" -- got Rico immediately hooked. It has now been some time since Rico started his apprenticeship with Midnight Taiko, and he continues to be captivated by the energy and rhythm of his new Taiko family. Victor Serendipity is how Victor came to fall in love with Taiko. "I was driving around Calgary showing the town to some friends from the Yukon, when I heard a drumming! Immediately, I am pulling my guests towards the sound. I try to peek through the door, but am unable to see. To solve this problem, I knock on the door, introduce myself, and ask for a performance! To my surprise this Taiko group welcomes us with open arms and larger than life smiles. They perform for us, and even go so far as to start teaching us how to play. I am immediately taken in by this warm, fun group, and have been part of it ever since." He says that taiko is a sparkling jewel that has added to the mosaic of his life. Initiative, persistence, and discipline are three things he lives by. Fun and working hard is the underlying factor for him. He has a Business Administration Diploma with a major in marketing, coupled with work experience in a management background. He is currently working towards his real estate license, and looks forward to jumping into the industry with a flying kick! "Taiko infuses me with culture, music, soul, and a fluidity of wicked vibrant beats! I believe in not only feeling the beats but making the BEATS of LIFE!" Yoshiko Yoshiko has always been proud to be half Japanese and Taiko has become a great link to her heritage. She became interested in Taiko when she saw her first performance in Edmonton in the late '80's but it wasn't until 1998 when she moved to Toronto that she was able to take Taiko lessons with "Yakudo, Traditional Japanese Drummers". After 8 months she auditioned for the group and became a member playing and teaching Taiko with them for 8 years. After moving to Calgary and taking 2 years off she is happy to get back to drumming. Yoshiko is also a professional actor and has a family with two young children that keep her very busy. Apprentices Teri-Lynn [blurb coming!] Probationary Members Hitoshi [blurb coming!] Jody [blurb coming!] Former / Honourary Members Former and honourary members can be found here Contact For booking information, questions or comments please contact us: midnight.taiko@gmail.com
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