Performance Groups > Hiryu Taiko

Hiryu Taiko

Hiryu Taiko means "Flying Dragons."

After a long, rewarding career as a professional taiko performer and teacher in the U.S. and Japan, Esther Vandecar is looking forward to a more relaxed lifestyle than the stresses of marketing a performing arts group, even though it was a great ride. She is interested in now being an ambassador of Taiko–passing on the joy it has given her for the last 25 years. She looks forward to performing as support for all the people that will fall in love with this wonderful art form. She plans to have several groups, adult and children alike, in the Kalamazoo area and to organize an annual study/travel trip to Japan each year.

MI Hiryu Taiko presently consists of Esther, Carolyn Koebel, and Gerren Young. The ensemble hopes to expand in number and repertoire this fall.