biographies
KUMIKO UYEDA
Kumiko is a performing pianist, composer, and teaches global music and music history courses at the University of the Pacific. Kumiko performs in various genres, including western art music with the Earhart Piano Trio, Nisene Piano Trio, Brazilian folk-jazz (choro) with the Green Sardines, and collaborates in performance with poets, global-music instrumentalists, and butoh dancers. She received her Masters Degree in piano performance from the Manhattan School of Music and Ph.D. in cultural musicology from University of California Santa Cruz. She has published two solo piano CD albums to date: Art of Love and Music of Erik Satie. Her compositions include genres of solo piano, popular song, butoh dance, poetry, and soundscapes. Born the year of the Rat.
KALLAN Y. NISHIMOTO
Kallan received Bachelor of Music degrees in Music Education and Clarinet Performance from the UOP Conservatory of Music. He has studied shamisen with Hideko Nakajima, shakuhachi with Masayuki Koga of the Japanese Music Institute and has studied taiko under Grand Master Seiichi Tanaka of the San Francisco Taiko Dojo. Kallan has composed music and designed sound for the Asian American Theater Company, Wise Fool Puppet and Cellspace as well as various film, video and dance projects. He has co-founded and performed in various funk, rock and world music ensembles such as Littletown, Bolo, Funky Tiki, Rebecca's Mask and Drumfire. He is an original founding member of Somei Yoshino Taiko Ensemble and was Artistic Director for Rain Ensemble (taiko group). Kallan also worked as a commercial photographer for 18 years. Born the year of the Rooster.