Canada’s premier taiko ensemble Nagata Shachu, celebrating their 20th anniversary season, ignite the stage with ‘Illuminate’ – featuring directorial debut by group member Tony Nguyen!

‘Illuminate’ combines infectious taiko rhythms, movement, improvisation and dramatic stage lighting to pay homage to the vibrant light sources that surround us, radiate throughout the universe and fill our lives with joy, hope, fear and curiosity. Each composition (which consist of both new and re-envisioned works and include the use of instruments such as taiko, bamboo flutes, shamisen and xylophone) represents light in various forms and colours, conveying the different energies and emotions that we experience when exposed to them. The drums and the performers are used to portray the abundance of light found in the skies, the forests, the oceans, and within our own communities. Lighting design is by Toronto’s Chris Malkowski.

ARTIST QUOTE:

Long-time Nagata Shachu member, multi-instrumentalist and this concert’s director Tony Nguyen states, “As a first-time director, I hope to bring a refreshing and illuminating adventure on stage that will continue to preserve the ensemble’s principal aim of rejuvenating the folk drumming traditions of Japan. ILLUMINATE is meant to show the different colours and personalities of not only the members of Nagata Shachu, but also of taiko and its music.”

TICKETS:

Adult; $30.00/$35.00. Student/Senior; $20.00.

Online; https://bit.ly/2SemzRX.

Phone; 416-978-8849.

In person; Hart House Box Office, University of Toronto, 7 Hart House Circle, Toronto, ON, M5S 3H3.

MORE INFO: http://nagatashachu.com.

Nagata Shachu members performing in this concert are Kiyoshi Nagata (director, master soloist, taiko, shinobue/flute), Aki Takahashi (taiko, shamisen, vocals), Tony Nguyen (taiko, woodwinds), Jason Huang (taiko), Andrew Siu (taiko) and Naoya Kobayashi (taiko).

Nagata Shachu has toured extensively and played rare and unusual collaborations with artists including acclaimed Toronto author and storyteller Rui Umezawa and Toronto contemporary dancers Noriko Kusama and Yuichiro Inoue, the Toronto Arts Foundation’s Arts in the Parks initiative, world/roots ensemble DRUMHAND, Japan’s acclaimed taiko, kokyu and shinobue virtuoso Shogo Yoshii (formerly of Kodo drummers), Juno nominated Toronto Tabla Ensemble, co-founder and principal dancer of Japan’s Kodo drummers Chieko Kojima, renowned blues artists Ken Yoshioka and multi-Juno Award winner Julian Fauth and internationally renowned shamisen master, Japan’s Masahiro Nitta.

ABOUT:

Since forming in 1998 and while rooted in the folk drumming traditions of Japan, Nagata Shachu's principal aim is to rejuvenate this ancient art form by producing innovative and exciting music (through concerts and workshops) that creates a new voice for Taiko. Taking its name from founder and Canada’s pre-eminent taiko soloist Kiyoshi Nagata and ‘shachu’ (old term for a performing troupe), Nagata Shachu has toured throughout Canada and countries including USA, Europe, Lebanon and Mexico, and has previously released six CDs of original music (latest; Hymus Road, 2013), and four DVDs (latest; Toronto Taiko Tales, 2017).