Mu Training Institute (MTI) Taiko scholarships

The newly launched Mu Training Institute is seeking applicants for their Taiko training institute. As Mu Performing Arts seeks to consciously focus on the development of their Asian American artists, they welcome interested applicants to consider auditioning for ten scholarships. See below for additional details!

Mu Daiko's Artistic Director, Iris Shiraishi, is seeking the next generation of talented artists to enrich the ranks of Mu Daiko - Mu Performing Arts' professional taiko ensemble.  The selected/successful auditionee will dive into the world of modern taiko performance in a series of intensive sessions led by Iris and senior Mu Daiko members.  Students will develop an understanding of the kata (form), the special aural/oral learning system, basic rhythms, and begin to learn parts of Mu Daiko's repertoire.  They will also learn about the Japanese roots of taiko and its diaspora in North America.

We are offering up to TEN SCHOLARSHIPS each valued at $2500!  

Eligibility:

• Must identify as Asian American
• Must be at least 18 years old
• Must attend all sessions
• Must be in moderate to good physical shape (and/or be willing to work towards this goal)
• You must schedule an audition
• Music, dance/movement or martial arts background is helpful but not required 

Audition Process

• Sign up in Feb for auditions in March by emailing Artistic Director Iris Shiraishi at iris@muperformingarts.org with "MTI Taiko" in the subject line. 

• A complimentary ticket to the Mu Daiko concert (March 7-9, 2014) at the Cowles Center will be offered to each auditionee!

Selected auditionees will attend a series of intensive sessions that will develop essential taiko skills centered around  kata (form), movement, music and performance in Mu Daiko's fully equipped Studio.  These new taiko artists will be performing as part of Mu Daiko's annual Student Recital on June 21-22, 2014 at the Sabes Jewish Community Center in Minneapolis.

• Twelve, twice weekly sessions @ 2 hours in May/June 2014 (most likely Wednsday evenings and Saturday afternoons). 

• We will try our best to arrange these sessions around your schedule

Consider this email your invitation to apply to the Institute and receive one of the ten available taiko scholarships.  If you are interested in signing up please email Iris Shiraishi with "MTI Taiko sign up" in the subject line.

Iris Shiraishi  is the Artistic Director of Mu Daiko. As a founding member, she started her training with Rick Shiomi, and has since had the good fortune to study under Kenny Endo, PJ & Roy Hirabayashi, Tosha Kiyonari, Kaoru Watanabe and members of Hanayui and Kodo. She'll be traveling to Japan this April to study Edo Bayashi with Kyosuke Suzuki.  Iris has served on the Advisory Committee of the North America Taiko Conference and is very excited to be a part of the transitional Board of the brand new nationally-based Taiko Community Alliance. She has degrees in music composition, arts administration and music therapy from the Universities of Hawaii, Iowa and Minnesota.