| Odaiko Sonora is Tucson's taiko, or Japanese
ensemble drumming group. Serving southern AZ since May 2002, Odaiko
Sonora is dedicated to increasing familiarity with and understanding
of taiko in our community. We do this for
over 30,000 people each year through classes and master workshops,
performances, school residencies, teambuilding workshops and by
producing concerts by internationally acclaimed taiko artists.
SOUND, MIND, BODY
& SPIRIT are the principles
behind our teaching and playing. Our students and members strive
to honor the traditions of taiko as they have come to us
through our teachers, to honor our audiences through the artistic
quality of our presentations.
View a complete history of Odaiko Sonora Gigs,
an archive of past entries on our News/Performances
web page, and the News Room,
with links to videos, articles, and past e-newsletters.
Odaiko Sonora consists of:
- Students in our various classes
- Community Group, formerly known as the "Tucson
Taiko Juku," this group is led by senior players with PEM
instruction, and is for those with a little to a lot of taiko
experience who wish to continue learning and playing together.
The CG has the opportunity to perform 3 or 4 times a year
- Performing Ensemble (PEM), the professional
performing group with almost 50 gigs a year
- Performer Understudy Pool, for players who
wish to learn performance skills and participate in designated
PEM performances
The organization has one fulltime staff person and many volunteers,
including a Board of Directors, administrative, artistic and teaching
staff, costume designers/fabricators, drum builders, gig coordinators,
merchandise handlers, numerous organizers and cooks and equipment
haulers, and, of course, the students and players. Student dues
go towards studio expenses, maintaining the equipment, and some travel
and hospitality costs for performances and master classes.
Performing Ensemble Members
Rome Hamner
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I fell in love with taiko in October 2000. My first sensei
was Stan Morgan of MoGan Daiko. I’m grateful to him
for being the first person to put bachi in my hands. I’ve
since had the honor of training with Tiffany Tamaribuchi,
Esther Vandecar, PJ Hirabayashi, Kenny Endo, Eichi Saito,
Yoko Fujimoto and Chieko Kojima of KODO's Hanayui Ensemble.
Before taiko, my percussion experience consisted of playing
in handbell choirs. Many of the skills transfer (ensemble
percussion is, after all, ensemble percussion) but many of
them don't (a drum, after all, is not a handbell.) There is
no feeling like playing taiko and I’m humbled and grateful
to be able to practice, perform and teach this art form.
I'm a board member for the Japan-American Society of Tucson,
and mother to three cats. (Ed. note: Rome was
selected as one of Tucson's 2007 Top 40 Under 40). |
Karen Falkenstrom
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I started studying taiko with Stan Morgan in 2001. When he
fell ill, Rome and I founded Odaiko Sonora so we could keep
playing and so Tucson would have a taiko group. Since then,
I've studied mainly with Tiffany Tamaribuchi (Sacramento Taiko
Dan), San Jose Taiko and Shidara. Before taiko, I was an arts administrator
and poet, have a BS in architecture from UVA and an MFA in
creative writing from U of A. I directed the Tucson Poetry
Festival, worked at the UA Poetry Center, co-founded Kore
Press and InConcert! Tucson. As our group's lead drum builder,
I thank Stan Morgan, Tony Trapasso, Mark Miyoshi and June
Schumann for sharing their knowledge of building these fine
instruments. (Ed. note: Karen was recipient of a 2008 YWCA
Woman on the Move award and the 2009 Pan Asian Community
Alliance Woman of the Year. In spring 2009, she received the prestigious Arizona Arts Award.) |
Nicole Levesque
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I graduated in the spring of 2003 with a Bachelor of Science
degree in Dance Education from the University of Georgia and
hit the ground running on a road I was sure would lead to
a lifetime of modern dance performance. In the fall of 2005,
Rome and Karen gave me my first taste of taiko within a dance/taiko
collaboration piece with OTO Dance. Since then, I have switched
focus and am vigorously pursuing taiko as my new performance
path. I have been fortunate enough to study under Tiffany
Tamaribuchi and attend workshops lead by San Jose Taiko and
Chabo-san of Shidara. |
Performance Understudies
Performer Understudies
Rebecca Bushner
Kristin Block
Tracy Baynes |
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Board of Directors
- Dr. Min Yanagihashi (President) is a retired university professor.
He earned his Ph.D. from University of Michigan, M.A. from University
of California at Berkeley, M.L.S. from University of Washington,
and B.A. from University of Hawaii. His teaching and research
interest focused on East Asian government, politics, and history.
Currently, he is an i-commerce business developer; co-founder
of the Japan-America Society of Tucson; and actively participates
in Roadrunner Civitan, Toastmasters International, the Japanese
Christian Community of Tucson, and Board member of the University
of Arizona Center for English as a Second Language.
- Kathy Bender-Coin is honored to serve on the
Odaiko Sonora board. She is a registered nurse, working at University
Medical Center in the Neonatal Intensive Care Nursery for over
20 years. Kathy, with her husband and two youngest children enjoy
living in Sonoita, AZ. Kathy loves traveling as often as possible.
She devotes much time to volunteering at her children's Montessori
school, and is enthusiastic about encouraging children to discover
new cultural and learning experiences.
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Brienne Dylewski, CFP® has been with Financial Architects since 2003. She moved from Pennsylvania to Tucson in 1984 with her family, and met her husband, Scott, while attending University High School. Together they went on to attend the University of Arizona. Brienne majored in Business and Public Administration, receiving a Bachelor of Science in Accounting. In 2006 she completed an extensive Financial Planning Certificate Program through Boston University, leading to her CFP® credentials. In 2007 Brienne became a full partner with Financial Architects, solidifying her long-term commitment to clients and the firm.
Brienne and Scott are volunteers for the Humane Society of Southern AZ and they recently took up cycling; participating in their first El Tour de Tucson in 2009.
- Dr. Andrea Edmundson Odaiko Sonora recently recruited
Dr. Andrea Edmundson, CEO of eWorld Learning, Inc. to its board
of directors. Dr. Edmundson has worked extensively in the field
of training and professional development, both locally and internationally.
She has served several years as President of the local chapter
of the American Society for Training and Development (ASTD). In
addition to having a doctoral degree in Education, Dr. Edmundson
is also a Certified Professional in Learning and Performance (CPLP).
For Odaiko Sonora, she will be applying her skills to the development
and promotion of corporate workshops, such as Team Building, that
incorporate Taiko drumming into the curricula.
- Ross Iwamoto is a retired Systems Engineer. He was born & raised in Maunaloa, Molokai, Hawaii.
He is married to Marianne Vivirito and has a daughte,r Annette. His extensive community service includes mediation and mentoring for youth — for which he has received commendation by the California State Senate. Ross is also extremely active in arts, cultural and film activities, and as an Asian Pacific American community ambassador. He has served on boards for the YWCA of Tucson, facilitating their Racial Justice Program's anti-racism and anti-bullying programs, and, as Vice President of the Pan Asian Community Alliance, he organized and directed the first Southern AZ Asian American Pacific Islander Conference in Tucson.
In 2009, Ross was awarded the Outstanding Community Member Award by the Arizona American Faculty, Staff, and Alumni Association of the University of Arizona. He is also the recipient of the 2011 TUSD Asian Pacific American Studies Department Most-valued Community Member Award.
Ross continues to mentor at-risk students, LEARN Center, Catalina Magnet High School. He is a member of the Hawaii Ohana Club, the Southern Arizona Watercolor Guild, Associates of the Drawing Studio, the Tucson Jazz Society, the International Animated Film Society (ASIFA-Hollywood), Arizona Opera Guild and Tucson Kitchen Musicians Association
- Dr. Victor Quiros is currently pursuing a PhD in
Conflict Analysis and Resolution(graduation: June 2008) and has
several years experience in facilitating group decision making
and helping groups build consensus. Currently employed by Our
Family Services Mediation department Victor helps Tucson residents
resolve immediate conflicts and build the skills that will allow
them to resolve future conflicts. He currently serves on the Board
of Directors for his Neighborhood Association and the local ASTD
group as V.P. of Finance. He is excited to be extending his community
service to include Odaiko Sonora.
Community Advisors
Howard Kong is a senior analyst at CB Richard
Ellis, providing clients with financial and comparative leasing
analysis. His other areas of focus include public relations and
business development, as well as internal business planning and
monitoring.
Artistic Consultants
Tiffany Tamaribuchi,
founder and leader of Sacramento Taiko Dan.
To-Reé-Née Wolf Keiser McArdle is an
artist whose work spans the range of 2D disciplines—from
paintings and assemblages to public art of grand scale—to
performance and theater. Her
tile mosaics and murals are an familiar feature in our city. In
2003, she was awarded a YWCA Woman on the Move award for her continuing
work with communities. See her work at freedomheartgallery.com
Rick Wamer & Lorie Heald,
Theatrical Mime Theatre
Other Odaiko Sonora VIPs
We gratefully acknowledge the following individuals:
Stan Morgan, founder and leader of MoGan Daiko,
for the sharing his deep love for taiko and his teaching. Mr. Morgan passed away in spring 2010.
Esther Vandecar of Fushicho Daiko in Phoenix,
for helping us get Odaiko Sonora started, for songs shared, invitations
to gigs and workshops, and for remaining a kindred spirit in our
love and respect for the art form. We also thank Fushicho Daiko
members Tony Trapasso and Eileen Morgan.
Mari Kaneta, sensei of the Suzuyuki-Kai School
of Classical Japanese Dance, for her guidance and instruction.
Our Wellness Coordinator Julie Baron, and Calligraphy
Artist Shinsuke Higuchi.
Thanks also to Ditte Lokon for this our beautiful
web design and fabulous Japan photos, and to Ofelia Lichtenheld
and Nancy Hall for costumes.
Members at Large
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Zibi Turtle
My first experiences with taiko were an absolutely
riveting performance by Wadaiko Yamato in 2001 and the Tenjin
Matsuri in Osaka in July 2001. I began playing taiko as a
student of the Odaiko Sonora's Tucson Taiko Juku in April
2004, attending a workshop they hosted by PJ Hirabayashi in
May 2004. I've thoroughly enjoyed every minute. When I'm not
drumming I'm a planetary scientist at the Univ. of Maryland.
(pirlwww.lpl.arizona.edu/~turtle/). |
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Jacob Hawkins
I wanted to play taiko the first time I saw
it as a child—on a PBS documentary about KODO. Every
time I saw San Francisco Taiko Dojo play at the Sakura Matsuri
(festival), I knew I had to learn how to do this. In 2003,
I moved to Tucson and had the opportunity to fulfill my dream
and play with Odaiko Sonora. In addition to my experience
with Odaiko Sonora, I've had the honor to study briefly with
SF Taiko Dojo and take workshops from Tiffany Tamaribuchi,
San Jose Taiko, Shidara, Yoko Fujimoto and KODO. |
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