Brian Borromeo
Core member
Year: Alumni, 4th year taiko
Major: Biology
Why Taiko? Taiko makes me feel complete.
How has Senryu Taiko affected you as an individual? It has made me more confident in expressing myself.

Anthony On
Core Member
Year: 6th Year taiko
Major: Statistics
Why Taiko? Music and expression are important to me.
How has Senryu Taiko affected you as an individual? I’ve grown a lot because of it and it’s become my second family.

Jon Burton
Performance Director 2010-2011
Year: 4th year
Major: Biochemistry
Why Taiko? Other than fulfilling my love of performing, playing taiko has taught me a new outlook on music as well as a new culture.
How has Senryu Taiko affected you as an individual? Being performance director fills the rest of the free time Senryu doesn’t already fill.

Christine Wong
Core member
Year:  3rd year
Major:  Economics/Administrative Studies
Why Taiko?  It’s loud and graceful at the same time.
How has Senryu Taiko affected you as an individual?  It’s made me open up more and not be afraid to interact with others.

Allen Su
Core Member
Year: 4th at UC Riverside, 3rd Year in Taiko
Major: Biology
Why Taiko? It fulfills my desire to continue as an musical performer in college, as well as satisfy my curiosity for Japanese culture.
How has Senryu Taiko affected you as an individual? It has made me more humble. It has also opened a whole new world to me, one in which I had no idea existed until I came to UCR.

Jeff Huang
Core Member
Year: 3rd year
Major: Statistics
Why Taiko? I’m fascinated at how it combines musical rhythms and physical movement.
How has Senryu Taiko affected you as an individual?
It helped me gain more insight about Japanese culture.  I also made many new friends.

Russell Takahara
Practice Director 2010-2011
Year: 3rd year taiko
Major:  Biology
Why Taiko?  Connecting to my Japanese roots
How has Senryu Taiko affected you as an individual?  It has created a means of expression beyond words and a second family.

Jodie Kao
Core Member
Year: 3rd
Major: Asian Studies
Why Taiko?: It’s so fun! I don’t know how my college experience would be without it!
How has Senryu Taiko affected you as an individual?: It has given me a home away from home. I feel like I have become a stronger person because of Senryu.

Jessica Woods
Treasurer 2011-2012
Year: 2nd year in taiko & school
Major: Creative Writing and Media & Cultural Studies
Why Taiko?: I love them drums.
How has Senryu Taiko affected you as an individual?: I feel I am a more confident person, now that I have a group to name as a second family.

Tiffani Chu
Performance Director 2011-2012
Year: 3rd year
Major: Undeclared
Why Taiko? Its a great stress reliever and feels super powerful!
How has Senryu Taiko affected you as an individual? Great friends and an unforgettable experience

Cynthia Kim
Core Member
Year: 3rd year student, 2nd year taiko player
Major: Psychology
Why Taiko? Where to begin? I feel like I repeat myself a lot when trying to answer this question, but that’s just it: this language is limited. In the end, all I can say is taiko just makes sense to me.
How has Senryu Taiko affected you as an individual? Let’s see. I love how I can continue to grow, and see myself growing, as a taiko player. As a musician. As a performer. I’m excited for myself. I’m excited for taiko.

May Louie
Core Member
Year:  2nd Year
Major: Sociology Business Administrative Studies
Why Taiko? Drums are awesome.
How has Senryu Taiko affected you as an individual? My 3rd family.

Heidi Ortloff
Core Member
Year: 3rd year
Major: History
Why Taiko? It’s powerful and loud.
How has Senryu Taiko affected you as an individual? It made me more self assured.

Audrey Tu
Core Member
Year: 2nd year
Major: Biochemistry
Why Taiko?
How has Senryu Taiko affected you as an individual?

Juana Flores
Core Member
Year: 2nd year
Major: Biology
Why Taiko? B.c I can. lol. Jk b.c its pure awesome.
How has Senryu Taiko affected you as an individual? Its reached me in a musical level I never experienced before. I never feel alone with the friends I now call family.

Nicholas Calabia
 Core Member
Year: 2nd year
Major: History/Law & Society
Why Taiko? It’s not only a great way to get buff and meet new people, but to express yourself in a different way :].
How has Senryu Taiko affected you as an individual? I’ve met so many people and made new friends who are like family to me–it made me stronger and more confident in myself. It made me a better person.

Warren Macdonald
Practice Director 2011-2012
Year: 2nd year Ph.D., 6th year in Taiko
Major: Entomology
Why Taiko? Because its a musical and artistic outlet that is on the rise in popularity.  It also gives more freedom of expression than anything else I’ve done.
How has Senryu Taiko affected you as an individual? Senryu has let me explore taiko and my own ability more freely.

Dennis Tan
Equipment Manager 2011-2012
Year: 2nd year in Taiko
Major: Environmental Science
Why Taiko? Because it has a raw sound and feeling that hits the player’s soul as well as others’ who are listening to it.
How has Senryu Taiko affected you as an individual? It has made me experience playing music for the first time in my life, which has broaden my perspective of the world and myself. It has also connected me to many different people and gave me a family whom I can all jam with.

Keely Toma
Costume Manager 2011-2012
Year: 2nd
Major: Undeclared CNAS
Why Taiko? Stress reliever and it’s so much fun

Elyse Imoto
Core Member
Year: 2nd Year
Major: Studio Art
Why Taiko?
To become more active in my culture and I have always wanted to play.
How has Senryu Taiko affected you as an individual?
Able to meet new people and made me more confident.

Jen Okuaki
Core Member
Year: 2nd year
Major: Media & Cultures
Why Taiko? Taiko is my way of life and it allows me to connect with my culture.
How has Senryu Taiko affected you as an individual? It has made me more outgoing and a team player. Thanks to taiko I’ve met people that I know will stick by my side for years to come.

David McKnight
Core Member
Year: 2nd year
Major: Chemical Engineering
Why Taiko? It’s fun to play and learn new songs
How has Senryu Taiko affected you as an individual? I’ve never been part of a group like this before, it’s great learning things together as a team.

Jenny Dang
Historian 2011-2012
Year: 2nd year
Major: Pre-Business
Why Taiko? I love the Japanese culture and learning new things.
How has Senryu Taiko affected you as an individual? I’ve met some awesome people who I have come to love very much and gained quite of bit of muscle…

 

Myla Yang
Core Member
Year: 3rd Year at UCR, 1st Year Taiko
Major: Biochemistry
Why Taiko? Why watch in awe when you can play!
How has Senryu Taiko affected you as an individual? It has made me more…outgoing? You can’t be shy to ask for help or express yourself when you play. You just have to put yourself out there or you’ll never improve.

Aki Kosaka
Core Member
Year: Foreign Exchange Student
Major: International Communication
Why Taiko? it gives me a chance to connect with my Japanese culture
How has Senryu Taiko affected you as an individual? I met a lot of new and interesting friends in Senryu

Alvina Nam
Public Relations 2011-2012
Year: 3rd year
Major: Psychology
Why Taiko? Completes my want of drum playing and musical performance.
How has Senryu Taiko affected you as an individual? I have gained more pride in my abilities and myself with taiko. The tight-knit group of Senryu also welcomes me into feeling like I have found my place, my people, my thing in college.

Sally Ito
Core Member
Major: Psychology
Why Taiko? Because it looks so cool (≧∀≦)
How has Senryu Taiko affected you as an individual? I’ve met so many new people that I now love. tehe.