Kokyo Taiko Drummers
Wadaiko, Japanese style drumming, has been described as dynamic, thunderous, and powerful; the sound can be felt in your soul. Kokyo Taiko, based in Lincoln, brings this exciting art of choreographed drumming to communities throughout Nebraska and surrounding states.
Having played with a community based wadaiko group in Japan, Kokyo's leader, Maureen Brase-Houchin, wanted to continue this wonderful combination of exercise and music after returning to America. She began by teaching taiko to Japanese exchange students and American students studying Japanese language. Those first few years involved short term practices in order to perform at annual events celebrating Japanese culture.
Longing for permanence and encouraged by her dedicated taiko students, Maureen formed Kokyo Taiko in 2004. Tim Jensen, one of her first students, and Deb Helzer, who also played in a community taiko group in Japan, helped give depth to Kokyo with their experience. Ironically, the Kokyo members who are from Japan (now Lincoln residents), did not play taiko in Japan. Their introduction to taiko came in Nebraska, from an American (albeit half-Japanese!). The opportunity to learn wadaiko so far away from home has been especially rewarding for those members.
With the sound of the drums resonating in the soul of both performer and listener, Kokyo's members savor this connection to their beloved Japanese culture and feel proud to share this amazing tradition with their audiences.
Past performance venues include: LIED Center for Performing Arts; Des Moines Asian Heritage Festival; Lauritzen Botanical Gardens; Celebrate Lincoln Ethnic Festival; Hastings Kool Aid Days; Lincoln Libraries; Council Bluffs First Night; River City Round-up Parade; NE HHS World Day on the Mall; Bryan LGH; Taste of Omaha Food Festival; Nebraska National Guard; Omaha and Lincoln Children's Museums; Fremont International Festival; Kansas State U.; UNMC; UNL; NWU; Creighton U.; Peru State, Doane, and Union Colleges; Kawasaki; Tricon; Nebraska elementary, junior high, and high schools; and many more.
In addition to performing, Kokyo offers taiko drumming lessons and workshops in Lincoln and Omaha .
Contact info: E-Mail Maureen at maureenbh@msn.com or call (402)477-9482.
