Help fund Taiko no Wa's Tokyo return!
A$4,235
of $3,000 targetyrs ago
Successful on 12th Aug 2012 at 2:00AM.
G'day.
Thanks for reading. If there's anyone you think would like to assist, please let them (or us!) know. We are very grateful for your support, and hope to see you at a TnW show soon!
Taiko no Wa's Tokyo team! Back row: Meagan Johnson, Luke Martin, Kirsten Jakobsen, Martin Lee, Terry Ashman, Emma O'Connor and Rieko Tanaka. Front row: Vi Nguyen, Wendy Tsui, Samantha Newton, Claire Boyle and Cecilia Lee.
We're Taiko no Wa. We're a group of individuals of all backgrounds who come together to play taiko, or Japanese drums. We're all amateur percussionists - our teachers are TaikOz, the internationally-renowned Australian taiko group, and they generously provide the space, instruments and training that has seen us rise from strength to strength. We gather together each weekend to play taiko, and occasionally play performances. Some are small local events and some are a little larger, as you can see below.
Performing at Darling Harbour's 21st birthday.
Now it's your turn to help.
In 2011, a twelve-member 'Tokyo team' of Taiko no Wa took out first place at the prestigious Tokyo International Taiko Contest. We were the first Australian group to successfully audition - let alone win! (You can see a little of our performance on this audience-filmed video.) It was a blast - after 18 months of work we were performing a Japanese musical form on stage in Japan! - and we thought things couldn't get much better.
Taiko no Wa in full Tokyo flight.
Until they asked us to come back.
There is no contest this year. Instead, the organisers are holding an all-star concert to celebrate the first decade of the Contest. We've been asked to return and play our own brand of Australian taiko in a main stage performance on Sunday, August 19. We have the pieces ready and have been working hard - now we just have to make the trip.
Drumming up dollars.
The costs of sending a group of twelve people to Tokyo are high, especially for self-funded amateur groups. Here's where you come in. For just a few dollars, you can help make the return to the scene of our triumph a little more attainable. We're not asking for the full amount - $2000 per person is a real leap! - but your pledge will go towards helping pay for the use of a rehearsal space in Tokyo, as well as offsetting some of our travel expenses. If you're able, please help us take our taiko group back to Japan.
The costs of sending a group of twelve people to Tokyo are high, especially for self-funded amateur groups. Here's where you come in. For just a few dollars, you can help make the return to the scene of our triumph a little more attainable. We're not asking for the full amount - $2000 per person is a real leap! - but your pledge will go towards helping pay for the use of a rehearsal space in Tokyo, as well as offsetting some of our travel expenses. If you're able, please help us take our taiko group back to Japan.
Backstage nerves?
Taiko no Wa's Tokyo team! Back row: Meagan Johnson, Luke Martin, Kirsten Jakobsen, Martin Lee, Terry Ashman, Emma O'Connor and Rieko Tanaka. Front row: Vi Nguyen, Wendy Tsui, Samantha Newton, Claire Boyle and Cecilia Lee.
For only a dollar you'll receive both our grateful thanks and an emailed record of our Tokyo trip.<br /> <br /> (Please note that for any larger rewards, international shipping may apply.)
2 chosen
Est. delivery is Sep 12
Take Taiko no Wa home with you! For a pledge of $25, you'll be sent an autographed photograph of the Tokyo team.
10 chosen
Est. delivery is Sep 12
A hundred! For this price you'll receive your very own Taiko no Wa mug. Sip your coffee safe in the knowledge that you've helped take Aussie taiko to the Tokyo stage.
2 chosen
Est. delivery is Sep 12
For this donation, you'll earn a Taiko no Wa t-shirt, as worn by members of the group in performance. Trace man's rise from the swamps to the odaiko with our signature tee.
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Est. delivery is Sep 12
Drumming is sweaty work, so this level's reward of a monogrammed Taiko no Wa sweat-towel is going to be sorely envied by the group!
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Est. delivery is Sep 12
This reward tier is special - for this amount you'll receive an exclusive, one-off Meegan Parkee artwork. They'll each be different, but with a distinct taiko flavour - Meegan's a drummer from way back!
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Est. delivery is Sep 12
Have you ever wanted to play taiko? Well now, here's your chance! We'll provide you with two spaces in the next TaikOz 'Taiko is for everyone' workshop in the TaikOz dojo at Ultimo.
0 chosen
Est. delivery is Oct 12
Can you hear the drums? This level of support will score you two tickets to see our teachers - TaikOz, including shakuhachi grandmaster Riley Lee - in concert with members of Japan's premier taiko ensemble, Kodo. <br /> <br /> We will provide two tickets to the performance of your choice in Sydney, Brisbane, Canberra, Newcastle or Melbourne during the September tour. We can't provide travel or accommodation assistance, though.
1 chosen
Est. delivery is Sep 12
Did you hear that? It was the sound of an angelic choir heralding your awesomeness! With a pledge of this magnitude, you will secure your very own Taiko no Wa performance.<br /> <br /> The team will come to your venue (or you can come to ours) and perform a number of pieces for you, including those we'll play at the Tokyo concert.<br /> <br /> There's some locational restrictions on this reward - if you're in Los Angeles this would prove a little difficult - but please contact us and we'll see what we can do.
0 chosen
Est. delivery is Sep 12