Contact Carley Okamura

Executive Assistant to the Chair and Associate Chairs, University of Alberta

Carley has played taiko since 2001 with Kita no Taiko in Edmonton, Canada. She has served on their Artistic Board since 2006, organizing group administration and artistic direction. She also teaches workshops and classes, and performs. She enjoys producing large-scale performances, specifically with collaborative elements and guest artists. In 2017 she launched her own production, “The Model Minority” which used varied artistic disciplines to explore the social issues facing Asian Canadians. She is also proud to be a member of the Women and Taiko community, and is interested to explore the relationship between taiko, community, and identity.

Contact Dr. Wanda M. Kurtcu

Supervising Teacher, San Jose State University

A performing member of Wadaiko Newark for 17 years, Wanda was also in attendance at the 2013 Launch Meeting for TCA and has since become a Lifetime Member of the organization, as well as currently serving on TCA’s HEART (Humility, Empathy, Anti-Racism, Resourcefulness, Transparency) Committee, focusing on the practices of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility. Within the taiko community, Wanda is a part of the HUG (Healing, Unlearning, and Growing) collective, as well as NtbD (Name to be Decided) in taiko, addressing issues and challenges faced/experienced by women, non-binary, and LGBTQI+ players within the male-dominated world of taiko.

Wanda has a doctorate is in Social Justice and Equity and, with recognition of diversity as an important part of any organization, hopes to bring that experience and voice to TCA in support of its current “growing pains” and efforts to reshape itself into a more inclusive and supportive entity within the taiko community.

Additionally, Wanda is a LEGO enthusiast! She loves Star Trek, Star Wars, Marvel Comic and DC universes, and plays Dungeons and Dragons. Truth be told, she’s a Sci-fi/Fantasy nerd and lives in those worlds as often as she can. 🖖

Contact Karen Koyano

Executive Director, Makoto Taiko

Karen began her taiko journey in 2012 when she took her first taiko class with Makoto Taiko in Pasadena, CA. In addition to taking taiko classes, she expanded her involvement with Makoto Taiko by helping it file for 501(c)3 nonprofit status, serving as a charter board member and Treasurer for 4 years, President for 2 years, and currently Executive Director. Karen is thrilled to see Makoto Taiko’s membership increase over the past decade from 25 in 2012 to 140 members today comprised of kids, adults, and older adults of diverse backgrounds and taiko abilities. She is one of 10 members in the Makoto Taiko Performing Group and co-teaches the Taiko for Older Adults program. Karen retired from Southern California Edison where she held senior management positions in the areas of engineering, financial analysis, and contracts. Karen is particularly focused on helping to develop the organizational foundation which empowers taiko groups and the taiko community to share its joy of taiko with all peoples.

Contact Kelly Kuwabara

Development Director, Mendelssohn Chorus of Philadelphia

Kelly Kuwabara has played taiko with Soh Daiko, the Kaoru Watanabe Taiko Center, Kyo Daiko, and Hoh Daiko. She has taught taiko classes and workshops at Settlement Music School, Allens Lane Art Center, Staten Island Arts, and other locations. Kelly is also a member of the samba drumming group Unidos da Filadelfia (caixa). She has worked in many non-profit organizations, including stints as the Program Director and the Development Director of the Asian American Arts Alliance. She is currently the Development Director of the Mendelssohn Club of Philadelphia and an adjunct instructor of English literature and composition at Cumberland County College. Kelly holds an A.B. degree in Philosophy from Bryn Mawr College and an M.A. degree in English and Creative Writing from New York University. Kelly believes in the power of the arts to sustain people and build communities, the importance of music and rhythm in social change movements, and the necessity of showing up at demonstrations with a drum. Her favorite 16th note is the “ee” after one.

Contact Kate Meigneux

Design and Project Management, StudioK8.com

As Kinnara Taiko celebrated their 50th anniversary in 2019, Kate celebrated the 20th year of her taiko journey with the oldest Buddhist Taiko Group in North America. In her younger days Kate was classically trained on violin, cello, and piano, performing in youth choir, orchestra, and dance in England and Australia. She went on to study Architecture and Design and received an MA from the Royal College of Art in London. Kate moved her practice to Los Angeles in the late 80’s, and started a family in the mid 90’s. Shortly after, she joined Senshin Buddhist Temple and felt the irresistible heartbeat of taiko drumming. As soon as she picked up the bachi in her mid-40’s, Kate knew she had found a new voice and a new community. With Kinnara, Kate has performed in several significant concerts in California, Oregon, Hawaii, and India; in particular, a momentous series of concerts brought California’s 3 founding taiko groups together in the 3 Japantown Concerts in Los Angeles, San Jose, and San Francisco. Kinnara also has a special relationship with the Arpana Dance Company and the two have collaborated on many occasions over the years, combining the arts of taiko drumming with Bharatanatyam dance. A magical highlight on Kate’s musical journey was traveling with Kinnara and Arpana on a tour through Southern India bringing taiko drumming to places in which it had never been heard. Kate is now collaborating with members of Kinnara, San Jose Taiko, and SF Taiko Dojo on the TCA funded Taiko Voices Project.

Contact Gail Montgomery

Executive Director, Michael I Kudo Foundation

Current member and the Treasurer of the newly-formed Sun Mountain Taiko of Colorado Springs, Gail began learning taiko with the Taiko Society in 2015 and was fortunate to attend workshops led by Kris Bergstrom, Minh Nguyen, Masayuki Sakamoto, and Yuta Sumiyoshi. Although she’s a relative taiko newbie, she has 20 years’ experience in the nonprofit arena, primarily in finance and project management with a holistic child development organization, and Board service for several animal welfare organizations, and holds both an MBA and CNP (Certified Nonprofit Professional) title. In 2019, Gail co-founded the Michael I Kudo Foundation and currently serves as its Executive Director.

As part of the TCA Board, Gail hopes to promote the benefits of taiko: cultural, physical, team-building, fun!

Additionally, Gail is the soft goods maker for Taiko Colorado and is a stay-at-home dog mom, living on acreage in Colorado where she doesn’t have to worry about bothering the neighbors when she practices taiko – and piano!

To ensure TCA remains vibrant and current, we pull talent from our different committees to accomplish our community connection projects. Board members are expected to volunteer on at least two committees which address areas such as: Executive, Finance, Governance.

Click here to view the Board Member Manual

Our Board includes taiko artists, taiko enthusiasts, and sometimes even non-taiko people who come from all over the continent and share our mission.

If you like fun and thoughtful virtual discussions, drum wrangling at conference, or any and all things taiko, we hope you will consider being our next TCA Board Member!

Become a TCA Board Member and help TCA empower a dynamic cultural artform! Click here to learn more

TCA is proud to have emeritus board members from across the taiko community.

To view the full list of TCA Board Alumni click here.

For more information about becoming a board member, contact us at info@taikocommunityalliance.org.