Group History#
Midnight Taiko was first formed in 2006, with three members: Ben Lim, Jenny Zhao, and Ruth Ablett, all three, sharing a love of Japanese culture and a passion for the art of taiko. Starting with just two drums in a basement and drumming until midnight (wink, wink), their dedication and positive community spirit laid the foundation for our group today.
Founding Inspiration#
Our founders had a shared passion for Japanese culture and the art of taiko. We continue today with this shared passion, offering Calgarians the opportunity to engage in music and Japanese culture as a meaningful part of their life. Through our practice of taiko, our members find meaning through three pillars: Movement, Community, and Learning.
Notable History#
- 2016 - Drums of the Dragon: a performance at the Rosza Center with the Calgary Wind Symphony
- 2018 - Midnight Taiko’s sold out 10 year anniversary concert at Decidedly Jazz Danceworks.
- 2019 - Shinbokukai: a concert we produced in collaboration with Vancouver groups, Buchido & Dahaza, celebrating Japanese Music and friendship.
- 2023 - Hosting the European group, Loco Ladies for taiko workshops and a sold out concert!
- 2024 - a collaboration with the Calgary Jazz Orchestra, performing the orginal suite by Johnny Summers, “Northern Lights, Eastern Skies” with choreography by us, for a sold out audience at the Bella Concert Hall.
- Special experiences: 3 group trips to Japan
Performance Material Sources#
Original compositions shared by workshop leaders, traditional pieces, open source pieces, original pieces composed internally.
Taiko Community Mentors in the Group#
Marty: taiko skills, composing songs TL: group formation/management
