The Japan-America Society of Pennsylvania is proud to present the Kenny Endo Ensemble Taiko concert at the Manchester Craftsmen’s Guild on Thursday, March 24th at 7PM. He is returning to Pittsburgh as a part of his 40th Anniversary Celebration tour and will be performing as an emsemble with Abe Lagrimas Jr (vibes, ukulele, drumset) and Sumie Kaneko (koto, shamisen, vocals).

Kenny Endo is a world famous taiko drum artist who has the honor of being the first non-Japanese national to receive the title of Natori (stage name and master’s degree) of Hogaku hayashi – traditional drumming. He has performed for Michael Jackson, Princess Di, opened for The Who, and was recorded in motion-capture suit for James Cameron’s “Avatar.”

Ticket prices are as follows:
$30 for the public
$25 for students and seniors
$20 for JASP members
To purchase tickets, please visit http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2515383

The concert in Pittsburgh is sponsored by the Toshiba International Foundation.

The Japan-America Society of Pennsylvania and Pittsburgh Taiko are proud to present On Ensemble in concert at the Hill House in the Elsie H. Hillman Auditorium, January 14, 2016, at 7:00PM.

On Ensemble is at the forefront of the growing taiko (Japanese ensemble drumming) community in the United States. Led by childhood friends Shoji Kameda and Masato Baba, On Ensemble has made a name for itself by combining the powerful rhythms and singing of traditional taiko with vibrant jazzy melodies.

The group has achieved recognition worldwide, from being the first American group to have been invited to perform at the prestigious Nihon no Taiko concert series in Japan in 2013, to their three critically acclaimed albums. Their fearless musical explorations have taken the ancient instruments of taiko into new realms and have established a distinctly modern expression for the art form.

The concert will be from 7:00-9:00PM, with doors opening at 6:30PM. Tickets are $20 for JASP members, $25 for non-members, and $10 for children and students with valid I.D. Tickets are available online at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2475571, and will be sold at the door.