Dublin Taiko (DT) is the largest youth Taiko organization in North America with 125 student performers in grades 6-12. It was created in 2003 with the support of the Dublin Arts Council, as a collaboration between Eitetsu Hayashi, one of Japan’s foremost Taiko performers, and Susan Blair the Davis Middle School band director.
The Dublin school system provide Dublin Taiko with practice and drum storage space and Ms. Blair donates over 9 hours per week to teach classes for the 6 Taiko groups. All funding for uniforms, drum purchase and maintenance, and equipment transportation is funded by this organization.
All funds raised directly support the Taiko program, all support staff are unpaid volunteers. Additional funding can help defray the costs of maintaining and replacing drums and uniforms and potentially provide scholarships to allow students, whose families cannot afford the cost, to attend Taiko conferences and also to enable the group to accept invitations to play at national and international Taiko festivals.
Review from Guidestar
I am the booster secretary and a volunteer. This organization is completely volunteer operated with no on-staff facility members, but it creates a wonderful cultural learning experience for kids grades 6-12 in the Dublin Ohio area that would otherwise not be available to them. In addition, this group shares their learnings with other surrounding communities through performances and other venues.
The kids that are fortunate enough to actually participate in this organization embark on a life-long joy of cultural music and enjoy an added benefit of focus and discipline, which is required while learning this art.
A fabulous charity and well worth keeping in place!