Members

Past Members

	Founder/Director After a tremendous experience with taiko in college, Diana wanted to extend the benefits of taiko drumming and infuse culture into her local community and thus began Naruwan Taiko. She has played taiko since 2006 with UC Berkeley's Raijin Taiko and looks to innovate styles by incorporating techniques from wushu (Chinese martial arts). Her musical experience also includes the piano and the violin. Diana is currently attending law school at the University of San Diego and is thankful for taiko every single day for providing the ultimate release from the rigors of academic life.
	Performer/Treasurer In Spring of 2004, Erin performed with UCSD Asayake Taiko in their debut performance. The adrenaline rush and rhythmic pounding of the drums was like none other, and from that point on… she was hooked. She continued to play with Asayake Taiko until 2006, and now plays with Naruwan Taiko aiming to promote cultural awareness to the San Diego community. Her musical background includes piano, flute, and she is currently picking up the ukulele.
	Performer/Fashion Chair Ali joined Naruwan Taiko in September of 2008 and is excited about the opportunity to learn and be creative with a group which shares the art of Taiko with such passion and generosity. Ali’s musical experience includes the piano, some banging on a standard drum kit, and lots of air band with her two wonderful children!
	Performer/External Director Amy joined Naruwan Taiko in May 2008. Her musical experience includes the piano, which she continues to play in ensemble groups today.
	Performer/Performance Assistant Kelly joined Naruwan Taiko in November of 2008. She enjoys playing the atarigane (ah-tah-ree-gah-nay) which is a saucer-shaped bell that helps to keep the beat, or "jiuchi", and also adds energy to a song. Of course she also loves to play the taiko drums! Kelly feels very grateful to her teachers and friends at Naruwan.
	Performer/Monday Class Assistant Ha had never seen taiko before watching Naruwan perform. She feels very lucky to be learning from Naruwan today and hopes to play until she is old and grey. She likes miyake daiko, comfortable shoulders, and good-smelling trees.
	Performer After watching an ecstatic performance by Naruwan Taiko in 2009, Ryley joined the group to engage the harmonic excitement of Taiko rhythm. He has an interest in exploring different cultures as well as their musical expression. Beside his job with the Navy network and communication, Ryley plays tennis, practices Choy Li Fut (Chinese martial arts), and performs lion dance with the Vietnamese Buddhist Youth Association around Southern CA communities.
	Performer As one of the group's fledgling members, Kanji says he's lucky to find himself amongst a group of very talented and dedicated musicians. After growing up in Colorado, he spent a couple of years in Japan teaching English where he first got a taste of Taiko drumming and its magic to move and excite an audience. He looks forward to learning and contributing all that he can from and to this art, and is grateful for the opportunity to be a part of something loud and proud.
	Performer/Secretary Yvonne began learning to play the Taiko drums in August 2009 and joined Naruwan Taiko in January of 2010. Her other musical history includes playing the violin and the piano as a child. Yvonne is excited and honored to be a member of Naruwan Taiko and has loved both the drumming and the camaraderie of the group. She finds the loud and lively nature of Taiko to be a great way to balance out the seriousness of the rest of her day working as a scientist in the biotech world.
	Performer/Monday Class Assistant Justin has had six years of choral experience in various acedemic (high school/college) settings and is self-taught in piano and guitar (and of course rock band). A self-proclaimed musical connoisseur, Justin's parents brought him up in a musical environment and both play multiple instruments. Justin is an incredibly nerdy dude who enjoys the company of his amazing friends.
	Performer Instructor by day, taiko drummer by night. Tuyet is honored and thrilled to be performing with such an energetic and dynamic group. Born to play the shekere (or hyotan), "I'm having the time of my life." Yo-hup!
	Performer/Media Manager Kari has a colorful musical history that includes years of piano lessons, singing, playing various percussion instruments, and a performance in Carnegie Hall. She began playing taiko in October 2007 and has since performed with both Naruwan and Togen Daiko. Kari is a music major at UCSD and is also the director of the DOTs, an all-female a cappella group on the UCSD campus.