Taikoza and East Winds Ensemble World Music Band from New York City, NY

Taikoza is a world touring Taiko drum ensemble that will make your event that much more a success with its dynamism and energy. Taiko drums that are up to 3 feet in diameter and bamboo flutes that create a performance that have brought audiences to their feet with standing ovations. This is perfect for your event if you want to make a difference and have people remember your event fit years to come. We can add as well colorful dances. Taikoza has performed internationally and got done of the biggest companies: Pepsi, Gillette, Merck, etc. We have also a more quiet ensemble of strings and bamboo flute as well with East Winds Ensemble was formed in 1999 in New York City. The purpose of the group is to present concerts of traditional and modern music performed on Japanese traditional instruments, the shakuhachi, Taiko, Shinobue, Noh Flute, Shamisen, piano and the koto. The members of the group are Masayo Ishigure, Yuki Yasuda, Charles Tang and Marco Lienhard. Performances have taken the group to Japan, Mexico, Europe and around the US. The members have performed in some of the world's most renowned halls such as Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Boston Symphony Hall, Suntory Hall in Tokyo and Osaka Festival Hall. Past concerts include, Symphony Space in New York, Salamanca Hall in Gifu Japan, concert in Tokyo, Museum of Art of Gifu, Concert for World Music Institute in New York, U of Maryland, Gettysburg College, Wesleyan College, University of Nuevo Leon, Mexico, University of Missouri in St. Louis, Symphony space in New York. EWE recently toured Brazil for the Japan Foundation. They perform in NYC regularly. Recording for Nintendo for a new game: “Red Steel” 1 and 2. Members also have recorded for the movie: Memoirs of a Geisha, other movies and documentaries. They released 2 best selling CD of the Music of Miyazaki Hayao arranged for koto and shakuhachi. Marco Lienhard has also released two solos CD and their newest CD for Piano and Shakuhachi was released in October 2012. Lienhard is an invited guest performer at many International Shakuhachi Festivals around the world. Lienhard gives master classes and concerts internationally – he was recently in Brazil, Argentina, Japan, Switzerland, France and Russia. East Winds Ensemble is available in different group sizes. We have solo concerts, duets, trio or larger ensembles available. We offer also masterclasses and we are open to perform new compositions by composers who are interested to write for the EWE. We can collaborate with orchestras or other ensembles. East Winds Ensemble has been supported by the Japan Foundation and is known for its high caliber of traditional as well as modern Japanese music. Concerts usually include a combination of duets, trios and solos of the instruments. The program includes traditional pieces as well as modern compositions. the group has performed in different settings from large venues such as MAdison Square Garden to smaller venues such as churches or smaller recital halls. We have presented Masterclasses for Columbia University, Harvard University, the Juilliard School of Music, Conservatoire of Geneva and many more. East Winds Ensemble is also collaborating with Eiraku Kai a Hiroshima Based Traditional Japanese music ensemble that will tour and collaborate with East Winds in 2014-2015 season. The tour is et to bring the groups to Brazil, Argentina and the USA and later on in Europe.