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KAGEMUSHA JUNIOR TAIKO
Kagemusha Junior Taiko has been running in Exeter since 1999.  More than a group, it's a youth taiko programme with members age 10-18 coming from schools within a 20 mile radius of the city.  Admission is by audition, usually starting in September.  Newcomers are expected to commit to at least one year, but in practice players stay much longer.  Older players have joined the adult Kagemusha Taiko Group.  

Members can access this page for taiko news.

Significant Performances
  • 2010: November, Music for Youth Schools Prom, Royal Albert Hall; July, National Festival of Music for Youth; 6th UK Taiko Festival; February, Barnfield Theatre, Exeter, 90min show. 
    March, Regional Festival of Music for Youth.
  • 2009: Devon Schools Mix; National Festival of Music for Youth; 5th UK Taiko Festival; joint concert with Yoneyama Maruyama Taiko at Exeter Phoenix Arts Centre.
  • 2008: National Festival of Music for Youth; 4th UK Taiko Festival (Herts); Devon Schools Mix;  Music for Youth School Prom (Royal Albert Hall).
  • 2007: National Festival of Music for Youth (junior and senior groups; 3rd UK Taiko Festival; Barnfield Theatre, Exeter.
    BBC - "Take a Bow"
  • 2006: National Festival of Music for Youth; 2nd UK Taiko Festival; Music for Youth School Prom.
  • 2005: Tokyo; National Festival of Music for Youth (Birmingham); 1st UK Taiko Festival.
  • 2004: The Big Bang (Exeter) with Grand Master Daihachi Oguchi; The Big Gig (Youth Music), Birmingham Symphony Hall; National Lottery 10th Anniversary, Tate Modern.
  • 2003: National Festival of Music for Youth (Q.E.Hall); Music for Youth Schools Prom.
  • 2002: BBC Blue Peter, Yoneyama (Japan).
  • 2001: Matsuri in the Park (Hyde Park);  Exeter Summer Festival;  Japan Festival (Cheltenham).
  • 2000: Devon County Show;  Exeter Summer Festival.

The performance in Tokyo in January 2005 was at the invitation of the Nippon Taiko Foundation.  The group played on the same bill as the junior taiko champions of Japan.

Kagemusha Junior Taiko have won an "Outstanding Performance" award at the National Festival of Music for Youth on three occasions, and have twice won a "Highly Commended" award.


DVDs and Video

Members of Kagemusha Junior Taiko appear on the latest four training dvds where they can be seen receiving instruction in playing a wide variety of taiko routines.

The group can also be seen in a range of video performances available on Youtube, and on Schools Prom dvds available through Music for Youth.