Rowan percussionists welcome renowned Japanese drumming group for concert event

KyoDaiko, Philadelphia’s community-based Japanese taiko drumming group, shares the stage with the Rowan Percussion Ensemble for a concert on Monday, November 23, 2009 at 8 pm in Pfleeger Concert Hall.

Founded by Settlement Music School percussion instructor Kris Rudzinski and six students in 2005, the 15-member KyoDaiko takes half the program and offers Kenny Endo’s Odaiko, Shoji Kameda’s Omiyage and arrangements of traditional compositions, Eisa/Beginnings and Aka Tombo (Red Dragonfly). Rowan’s Jaren Angud solos on Minoru Miki’s Marimba Spiritual, accompanied by KyoDaiko’s Rudzinski, Andrea Lustig and Audrey Tuckerman.

The Rowan percussionists start off the evening and present the premiere of Edwin Avril’s Metamorphosis for Percussion and Organ, under guest conductor John Szachewicz and joined by organist and faculty member, Dr. Nancy Rawlins. Additionally, they perform Eric Ewazen’s Palace of Nine Perfections, Anthony DiBartolo’s Music for Five Marimbas, Edgard Varese’s Ionisation and Bob Becker’s Mudra, with ensemble director Dean Witten as soloist.

KyoDaiko is the first taiko drumming group in Philadelphia, a collaboration between Settlement and the Shofuso Japanese House and Gardens in West Fairmount Park. Since its debut, the group has appeared at WXPN’s World Café, the Kimmel Center’s Summer Solstice Celebration, area schools, block parties and even ESPN’s Monday Night Football. Their ensemble style of drumming dates to the 1950s, but the taiko drum has been used in Japan for more than 1,000 years in religious ceremonies, military exercises, noh and kabuki theatrical productions and musical performances for the royal court. Taiko in Japanese means, literally, “fat drum.”

The Rowan Percussion Ensemble includes Froebel Amarillas, Jaren Angud, Eric Carr, Megan Cooney, Colleen Curren, Lavianna Felder, Gregory Goushian, Anthony Graves, Jennifer Kane, Jeremy Lowe, Erik Marley, Gavin McCauley, Joshua Simpkins, John Szachewicz and John Vines. KyoDaiko features Rudzinski, Jen Chippardi, Lei Lynne Doo-Horvick, Anastasia “Toni” Goodman, Tim Grant, Ana Hernandez, Andrea Lustig, Kazumi Myran, Lehla Olson, June O’Neill, Matt Palmer, Cynthia Raymond, Theresa Stephen, Cathi Tillman and Audrey Tuckerman.

Pfleeger Concert Hall is located in Wilson Hall on the campus of Rowan University, Route 322 in Glassboro, NJ. This event is free and open to the public. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. For directions or additional information, call the box office at (856) 256-4545, email arts@rowan.edu or visit www.rowan.edu/fpa.