YuNiOn delivered free (sold out) Japanese drumming workshops where 30 participants were introduced to the Taiko (Japanese drum). Participants learnt a simple song and about the symbiotic relationship of players as a community. Three - six artists assisted on the day with 100% being Inner West residents and identifying as culturally diverse / BIPoC.
YuNiOn was formed in 2005 by Masae Ikegawa and Graham Hilgendorf as a duet for taiko, percussion and more!
Yu – blend, Ni – two, On – sound
YuNiOn takes people on a fun, open and soulful journey through the high spirited energy of the Japanese taiko drum, blended with percussive sounds and festive song and dance.
About the artists
While Graham and Masae were living in Japan in 2005, YuNiOn was formed, performing a number of concerts, corporate performances and workshops. Also, during this time, Graham and Masae composed a major work called Shifting Sand. This composition was then produced, directed and choreographed by Graham to form a theatre/music work of the same name for Sydney based ensemble, TaikOz. Masae and Graham have toured extensively, performing throughout Australia with Australia’s major Symphony Orchestras, toured to Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, China, Taiwan, France and America and performed and given workshops throughout Japan.
In Australia, Graham and Masae have performed in Hamer Hall (Melbourne), Sydney Recital Centre, Canberra Theatre, Brisbane Concert Hall, and Adelaide Festival Theatre. They have also composed many works and directed major events across Australia. Highlights include the Sydney Festival First Night 2011 for 150 drummers, major corporate events for Toyota and AMEX, composing, directing and choreographing music for theatre and DVD film.
Recently YuNiOn has been collaborating with the Satsuki Odamura Koto Ensemble, Yasukazu KANO from Japan, major performances in Bega, Perth (Western Australia), featured in the 2017 National Folk Festival (Canberra), in 2018 Toured to New Zealand for the second time, in 2019 performed in Beijing (China) and in 2020 collaborated and performed in the Sydney Festival at the NSW Art Gallery.
https://www.yunion.org/ @yunion_taiko/
Participating artists
Masae Ikegawa Graham Hilgendorf
Feedback
Our goal was for people to learn to play the taiko (Japanese drum) together, understand their role in the situation and support each other through playing. This gives the participants an increase in cross cultural understanding and the recognition of cultural diversity as a cultural asset and contributor to innovative arts.
Gallery
