Our 22nd annual student concerts, held at Rosstrevor Hall of Brighton Grammar School, brought to an end another year of learning and spreading the word on the ancient art of taiko. Over a hundred students and ensemble players performed to delighted audiences. This year the program was colourful and varied. Many new pieces joined some beloved Rindo classics to bring a unique line-up for friends, family and members of the general public.
Winson Tan leading the Kyari song before Rindo Miyake performance at our annual student concert, Saturday 9 December 2017. Also pictured, Yukiko Shoya (left) and Ami Akimoto (right). Photograph by John Kovacs
Ami Akimoto performing on the Odaiko at the 2017 student concert, Saturday 9 December 2017. Photograph by John Kovacs
As in 2015, audiences were treated to an odaiko solo by ensemble player Ami Akimoto. Once again, in a display of extraordinary strength, stamina and talent, Ami san was cheered on by colleagues and students gathered side stage in support and admiration. Supporting her on the odaiko was Miho Hariu, while other ensemble performers, Nana Shintani and Katja Petrovic, gave encouragement on chappa and kane. An outstanding solo by shakuhachi master, Lindsay Dugan, made the particular piece even more memorable to anyone who had the privilege of witnessing the performance.
A solemn introduction to the odaiko solo. Lindsay Dugan on Shakuhachi, Nana Shintani on Kane (background), Ami Akimoto on Odaiko (left) and Miho Hariu (right), Katja Petrovic on Chappa (far right). Photograph by Akina Sakamoto
Earlier in the concert, Lindsay san performed San’an (‘Prayer for safe delivery’). San’an is part of the solo traditonal repertoire, honyoku. According to folklore, monks of the Fukeshu sect in Echigo Province (modern day Niigata), who used the shakuhachi for spiritual practice, would perform San’an before childbirth. It was part of a ritual to pray for easy delivery, in which a monk would give to the expectant mother, just before childbirth, rice which had been passed through the shakuhachi.
It is no surprise that Lindsay san was able to magnificently and effortlessly bring this piece to life. Lindsay Dugan started learning the shakuhachi in 2003 in Sydney, then studied in Japan for 10 years with Katsuya Yokoyama. He holds Master degrees in shakuhachi from Sydney University and Tokyo University of Fine Art, and he’s currently working on his PhD in this beautiful instrument at the University of Melbourne.
Another impressive drum solo was performed by Wadaiko Rindo student Sotaro Sato, this time across a three-drum setup. Sotaro san started learning the drum kit when he was eight years old and hasn’t looked back.
Percussionist, Sotaro Sato, applying his jazz improvisation training to a solo on three drums. Photograph by Mia-Alexandra Sky
Although he has only just completed two years of taiko under the guidance of our own Toshi Sakamoto, days after our concerts he graduated from the Bachelor of Fine Arts at the University of Melbourne’s Victorian College of the Arts (VCA). Having played both drum kit and percussion through concert bands, jazz bands and orchestras, he decided to hone his skills in improvisation by completing a the Jazz and Improvisation course over the last three years at the VCA. Audiences were fortunate to enjoy the results of Sotaro san’s soloing skills over both concerts.
Students across all classes and levels also participated in this year’s concerts. New-timers, seasoned drummers and ensemble players brought their talent and the results of their hard work to the stage to celebrate taiko as a unifying force. Crazy costumes for uchoten, the return of Chappa Girls (now with new and improved silver tinsel) and a wonderful enactment of a song about pounding mochi, a beloved Japanese rice flour treat. Seasoned performer and huge supporter of Wadaiko Rindo, Noriko Tadano brought the song to life along side Ami Akimoto on taiko and the sweet backing vocals from Junko Sakamoto, Noriko Kuchi and Jenny Parmenter.
Noriko Tadano is an award-winning, virtuoso master of the Japanese shamisen (a 3-string, banjo-like instrument) and a traditional Japanese vocalist, who has performed all over the
world. She has been playing shamisen since she was 6 years old and performs both as a soloist, as well as in collaborations. Noriko’s ability and drive to cross over between traditional
and modern Japanese music has recently seen her perform with renowned world musicians as well as traditional Japanese artists. Noriko’s work has also featured in commercials, short films and international theatre productions.
Our beloved member, Mari Ford, participating in the Nanbu Mochitsuki dance at our 2017 student concerts. Photograph by John Kovacs
This year, Noriko brought Nanbu Mochitsuki Uta, or Sticky Rice Pudding Song, to our stage. It is a Japanese folk song from Iwate and Aomori prefectures in the northern part of Japan. Accompanied by traditional dancing, it’s believed to have started as part of New Year festivities to sing about the prosperity rice farming brought to the area during the Edo period. Wadaiko Rindo’s unique twist to the performance of this song surprised and delighted audiences. Keep a look out for more details on this piece, coming soon with even more photos!
The concerts were held on Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th of December and the buzz from that weekend still has us on a high, even though we’re nearing the end of the month as this article goes live. If the rate of progress and growth we’ve experienced in the last 12 months is anything to go by, 2018 is gearing up to be a fantastic year for Wadaiko Rindo.
Congratulations to all involved in making these concerts a success.
Group shot from Saturday 9 December 2017. (Detail of a photo by John Kovacs.)