What: ShastaYama Taiko Festival
When: Aug. 1, 6 p.m. (gates open at 5 p.m. for Food Court)
Where: Shastice Park (Rockfellow & Adams Drive) Mount Shasta, California
Cost: $25 (age 18 & Up), $20 (13-17), $15 (5-12), free (4 & under)
Tickets available at: Village Books and at Soul Connections in Mount Shasta, Bogbean Books and Music in Redding, Yreka Chamber of Commerce, at the gate, or by calling (800) 926-48655, ext. 203, or at shastayama.org.
Bring blankets or lawn chairs for seating on the grass, and warm clothes and flashlight for after sunset.
ShastaYama is the largest outdoor taiko festival in the western United States. Taiko Grand Master Seiichi Tanaka brought the modern form of Japanese drumming to America, founding San Francisco Taiko Dojo in 1968. Taiko in America is flourishing.
Two of Tanaka’s former students, Russel Baba and Jeanne Mercer, founded Shasta Taiko in 1985, introducing the community of Mount Shasta to this dynamic style of drumming. Their efforts have culminated in an annual world-class outdoor taiko and music festival – ShastaYama.
“Tanaka Sensei has always had a deep reverence for nature and was deeply moved by Mount Shasta’s majestic presence the last time he performed at ShastaYama,” Baba said. “We are excited to present our teacher and San Francisco Taiko Dojo again for ShastaYama 2009.”
“His passion for taiko and his extraordinary presence is reflected in his group,” Mercer said. “You understand taiko‘s center, its spirit, energy and feeling through their performance.”
Featured for the first time at ShastaYama will be the taiko group Jun Daiko, also from the Bay Area. “Jun Daiko is a new group of outstanding performers,” Russel said. “A part of ShastaYama’s vision is to encourage and present emerging artists.”
Masato is the son of Jeanne and Russel and a member of the On Ensemble, last year’s featured guest group. A recent high profile performance was the 2009 Academy Awards for Masato and the group TaikoProject, where he serves as Musical Director.
“The combination of taiko artistry and virtuoso dance by Michelle Fujii and Toru Watanabe adds a special touch to ShastaYama,” says Jeanne.
Fujii is Artistic Director of Portland Taiko and Watanabe performs with Portland Taiko and with Warabiza, Japan’s foremost folk dance troupe. Masato, Michelle, and Toru are top American taiko artists and inspirational leaders of a new taiko generation.
Shasta Taiko‘s members are from the community of Mount Shasta and perform for schools, events, and concerts throughout the western U.S.
“ShastaYama introduces our group and the community to many styles of taiko and music on a scale not often seen even in larger communities,” Mercer said. “Last year over 1,000 people attended ShastaYama.”
Situated at the base of Mount Shasta in Shastice Park, ShastaYama is an inspirational evening of taiko, music, and dance.
“Combining these arts with the awe-inspiring beauty of the Mount Shasta area is a perfect fit,” says Baba. “Taiko brings people together, and ShastaYama merges culture and art with nature, a great formula for growth on many levels.”
ShastaYama is sponsored by Shasta Taiko / Russel Baba and Jeanne Mercer, Shasta Mountain Playhouse, Mt. Shasta Recreation District, and Mt. Shasta Chamber of Commerce.
