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Ever since hearing her first odaiko at hometown Obon festivals, Meg has been fascinated by taiko. On a recent tour of Japan as a member of the Pacific Music Festival Orchestra, she had a chance to play taiko for the first time at the Nebuta Festival in Aomori, and a taiko player was born. Upon moving to Boston, Meg was thrilled to find Odaiko New England and began taking taiko classes in 1999, becoming a member in 2000. You can hear Meg's melodious fue (bamboo flute) in several Odaiko New England pieces. Her first taiko composition, Haru, was premiered in the summer of 2000.
When Gina is not drumming or playing with her new daughter, she works as a Program Director at the Boston Women's Fund, a community foundation which supports grassroots women's and girl's organizations dedicated to fighting for social, racial and economic justice. Prior to that, she worked for several years in international development with grassroots women's and youth groups in El Salvador. She also has experience teaching English as a Second Language in Taiwan. |
Born in New York City, John has been playing drums since before he could walk. When asked how he started playing the drums he says, "I was blessed with a family who appreciated drumming, well actually tolerated," he says grinning. John cut his teeth with school bands and was soon seduced with the pleasures of rock and roll in sixth grade. The drum kit and different bands have been steady companions over the years. John is a graduate student in neuro biology and is studying the affect of sound on the brain. Recently this took him to Italy where he got to check out the group Taiko Do in Rome. Looking to expand his rhythmic horizons and explore movement, John joined the group in January, 1998.
Born and raised in Toyama, Japan. Akiko plays Fue, Flute, Saxophone and Keyboard. In Toyama, Japan, Akiko did music production for various venues. She also took lessons in Samba, Bosa Nova dance and percussion. Akiko played with the rock group "La Vie En Rose" in Tokyo, Japan. ONE is very proud to have Akiko perform and lend her musical background to the group. Akiko is presently studying music arrangement at Berklee School of Music in Boston, MA. 
Meg Suzuki is originally from Ofuna, Japan and grew up in rural Pennsylvania. She holds degrees in flute performance from the Hartt School of Music and the San Francisco Conservatory and has played in orchestras in Japan, Italy, Austria and all over the US.
Of Taiwanese descent, Gina was first exposed to taiko drumming at the various temple festivals in her native country. Although she was familiar with the taiko drum, Gina first encountered American Taiko at the 1999 Dragon Boat Festival in Cambridge, MA. The infectious rhythm and energy of the drums inspired her to seek out opportunities to learn to drum. Once she discovered Odaiko New England and attended a few workshops, she was hooked.