Stuart Paton is the Founder and Artistic Director of Burlington Taiko, and a sponsored Taiko vocationist with TaikoVentures. He spent most of his childhood in Japan, and his earliest exposure to taiko included a subconscious learning foundation from weekends overhearing his neighbor’s own taiko practice, as well as a first-grade fascination with the drums at Obon celebrations in Tokyo. His formal study of taiko began in 1984 during a summer apprenticeship with Grandmaster Seiichi Tanaka, founder of San Francisco Taiko Dojo – the first taiko group in North America. He studied at Oberlin College and was part of Osteel. In 1986, he founded the Burlington Taiko, and has been involved in hundreds of performances, including feature performances at the 100th running of the Boston Marathon, annual performances at Burlington’s First Night, the Joseph Campbell – Keepers of the Lore festival, the Black Ships Festival in Newport, Rhode Island, and over 200 corporate, collegiate and public performances.
This performance is joined by our very own Oberlin College Taiko, and Eric Paton, professor of percussion at Ohio University, a world percussionist drawn to the intersection of movement and music. Eric Paton has accompanied Dunham and Ailey classes for April Berry and performed with Aretha Franklin, Tito Puente Jr., Sir Roland Hannah, Bobby Shew, Carmen Cavallaro, Mojoflo, Wande African Dance Company of Liberia, Waves de Aché, Milano La Scala (Italian National Opera - La Boheme - Japan Tour), TINA- The Tina Turner Musical, Ain't Too Proud, Hiuchi Taiko, Yumbambé Salsa, and Eitetsu Hayashi.
Sponsored by: The Japan Foundation, University of Findlay, East Asian Studies and Oberlin College Taiko
