| Odaiko Sonora is Tucson's premiere 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. Odaiko Sonora is also dedicated to offering
our region the finest taiko performance possible. We do this for
over 13,000 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
always 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 over 40 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 rental, 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. By
day I'm the Business Administrator for Our Family Services.
I'm a board member for the Japan-American Society of Tucson,
and mother to two cats. (Ed. note: Rome was
selected as one of Tucson's 2007 Top 40 Under 40). |
Karen Falkenstrom
 |
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) and San Jose Taiko. Before taiko, I was an arts administrator
and poet, and have a BS in architecture from Univ. of VA,
and an MFA in creative writing from Univ. of AZ. I Directed
the Tucson Poetry Festival, worked at the UA Poetry Center
and founded Kore Press. As our group's lead 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 honored this year with a 2008 YWCA Woman
on the Move award). |
Nicole Stansbury
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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. |
Rebecca Bushner
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[bio to come] |
Community Group Leaders
left to right:
Nancy Hall
Jacob Hawkins
Sonya Evans-Linsell
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Our Board of Directors
- 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.
- Yvonne (Bonnie) Corella, a member of the Tohono
O'odham tribe, has been in charge of the San Xavier Education
Department for over 5 years. Dedicated to the education of her
people, Bonnie works tirelessly to expand opportunities
for and appreciation of education among the Wa:k O'odham of San
Xavier. She brings this strong passion for education, and the
arts as an integral part of a complete education, to the Odaiko
Sonora board.
- 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. Mr. Kong's previous experience was in corporate marketing
and broadcast services at the National Collegiate Athletic Association
and in tournament operations with the PGA TOUR. He is a graduate
of the Eller Graduate School of Management where he served as
president of the MBA Student Association. Mr. Kong represented
the Eller School at the 2002 International Achievement Summit
in Dublin, Ireland, an event celebrating the accomplishments of
the top graduate students worldwide.
- 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.
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. She wrote and directed her own one-woman
play for Tucson's acclaimed Invisible Theatre, and created music
and short performances for numerous other groups and events. 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 Theater
Other Odaiko Sonora VIPs
We gratefully acknowledge the following individuals:
Our Wellness Coordinator Julie Baron, and Calligraphy
Artist Shinsuke Higuchi.
Stan Morgan, founder and leader of MoGan Daiko,
for the sharing his deep love for taiko and his teaching.
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.
Thanks also to Ditte Lokon for this our beautiful
web design and fabulous Japan photos, and to Ofelia Lichtenheld
and Nancy Hall for costumes.
Performing Ensemble Member 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 Tucson Taiko Juku in April
2004, attending a workshop they hosted by PJ Hirabayashi
in May 2004. I've thoroughly enjoyed every minute and am
thrilled to have become an apprentice to Odaiko Sonora this
fall! When I'm not drumming I'm a planetary scientist at
the Univ. of Arizona. (pirlwww.lpl.arizona.edu/~turtle/). |
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