Taikoz co-founders honoured with Japanese Foreign Minister's award
Author: Kathy Kenyon
Date: Thu 06 Oct 2016
Co-founders of Taikoz, Artistic Director Ian Cleworth and Shakuhachi Grand Master Dr Riley Lee, will be honoured with a Japanese Foreign Minister’s Commendation for their contribution towards promoting friendship and goodwill between Australia and Japan.
The awards will be presented at an official ceremony TONIGHT, Thursday 6th October at the Japanese Consul-General’s residence in Bellevue Hill, marking the 40th anniversary since the 1976 signing of the Basic Treaty of Friendship and Co-operation between Australia and Japan.
As an organisation, we find if it ironic that in the same year our Artistic Director and co-founder Riley Lee are being commended by the Japanese Government for their service to art and culture, our peak arts body the Australia Council has chosen to defund Taikoz and put its future at risk.
We ask you, our supporters and friends, to applaud and be proud of Ian and Riley, as we are, on this most auspicious occasion.
Ian and Riley will be honoured alongside other high profile Australians including fashion designer Akira Isogawa, Australian Chamber Orchestra violinist Aiko Goto, ceramist Mitsuo Shoji and president of the Australia-Japan Society of New South Wales, Philip Mitchell.
Founded in 1997, Taikoz introduced the art of taiko drumming to Australia and has long since been one of the world’s leading taiko ensembles, regularly performing on Australian and international stages to critical acclaim.
Ian Cleworth, Taikoz Artistic Director and Co-Founder
Australia’s non-Indigenous musical history is a rich tapestry of instruments, sounds, techniques and traditions that originally came from other parts of the world, and twenty years ago, Riley and I had a dream to gather together a group of dedicated musicians that could create and perform original, new music for the Japanese taiko and shakuhachi. Having our contribution recognised in this way is truly a great honour.
Dr. Riley Lee, Shakuhachi Grand Master and Co-Founder
My shakuhachi teachers in Japan, were they still alive, would be very gratified to hear of this honour, but not because one of their students received a commendation. My teachers would be pleased because this award from the Japanese government is recognition that the shakuhachi tradition, and of course the taiko, is thriving outside of Japan. I look forward to the time when the students of our own Australian-based students also receive such recognition.
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Taikoz co-founders honoured with Japanese Foreign Minister's award
Author: Kathy Kenyon
Date: Thu 06 Oct 2016
Co-founders of Taikoz, Artistic Director Ian Cleworth and Shakuhachi Grand Master Dr Riley Lee, will be honoured with a Japanese Foreign Minister’s Commendation for their contribution towards promoting friendship and goodwill between Australia and Japan.
The awards will be presented at an official ceremony TONIGHT, Thursday 6th October at the Japanese Consul-General’s residence in Bellevue Hill, marking the 40th anniversary since the 1976 signing of the Basic Treaty of Friendship and Co-operation between Australia and Japan.
As an organisation, we find if it ironic that in the same year our Artistic Director and co-founder Riley Lee are being commended by the Japanese Government for their service to art and culture, our peak arts body the Australia Council has chosen to defund Taikoz and put its future at risk.
We ask you, our supporters and friends, to applaud and be proud of Ian and Riley, as we are, on this most auspicious occasion.
Ian and Riley will be honoured alongside other high profile Australians including fashion designer Akira Isogawa, Australian Chamber Orchestra violinist Aiko Goto, ceramist Mitsuo Shoji and president of the Australia-Japan Society of New South Wales, Philip Mitchell.
Founded in 1997, Taikoz introduced the art of taiko drumming to Australia and has long since been one of the world’s leading taiko ensembles, regularly performing on Australian and international stages to critical acclaim.
Ian Cleworth, Taikoz Artistic Director and Co-Founder
Australia’s non-Indigenous musical history is a rich tapestry of instruments, sounds, techniques and traditions that originally came from other parts of the world, and twenty years ago, Riley and I had a dream to gather together a group of dedicated musicians that could create and perform original, new music for the Japanese taiko and shakuhachi. Having our contribution recognised in this way is truly a great honour.
Dr. Riley Lee, Shakuhachi Grand Master and Co-Founder
My shakuhachi teachers in Japan, were they still alive, would be very gratified to hear of this honour, but not because one of their students received a commendation. My teachers would be pleased because this award from the Japanese government is recognition that the shakuhachi tradition, and of course the taiko, is thriving outside of Japan. I look forward to the time when the students of our own Australian-based students also receive such recognition.