Todoroki Drummers

Ben

Ben has played taiko since 1996. 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.

James

James joined Todoroki Taiko in December 2004, after being fired up by workshops with Kita No Taiko in Edmonton. Apart from Japanese drumming, he has also enjoyed a few African drum circles, and has been constantly drumming on his leg his whole life. Coming from a dance background, James enjoys the performance aspect, and having a career in engineering, he enjoys the stress relief.

Sarah

Sarah was an orchestral percussionist for many years at school; but nothing in an orchestra could have prepared her for the dynamicism and force of taiko drumming. Never having visited Japan, Sarah was introduced to the art through a friend, Sarah (see above), and attended a beginner's class in Calgary in 2004. As a result of that course, she became one of the founding members of Todoroki Taiko. Sarah was born in England and moved to Canada in 2002 with her patient and supportive husband, Ivor.

Vicki

Vicki's interest in Taiko started way back in 1988 when she was wowed by Kodo's unbelievable performance at the Olympic Art Festival here in Calgary. Unbeknownst at that time, she was later to spend several years teaching English in Western Japan, where although there were several opportunities to spectate at various Taiko performances, actually playing never occurred to her until Global Fest 2004 uncovered Todoroki Taiko. Armed with only 4 hours of prior Djembe lessons and a few African drum circles, she challenged herself to a Taiko workshop and the rest is history.