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Details at a Glance
- Dates: Wednesday February 11th – Friday February 13th, 2026
- Time: 9:00am – 5:30pm daily (incl. lunch break)
- Instruction: 3 Days (21 total hours)
- Experience Level: Open to all from beginners to advanced. There will be something challenging for you whatever your experience level!
- Performance : Performance opportunity at the East Coast Taiko Conference
- Registration Fee: $675 General / $625 kaDON Member / $375 Collegiate and recent grad (Registration for ECTC is separate)
- Location: First Baptist Church, 309 N Cayuga St, Ithaca, NY 14850
- Meals & Lodging: Not included
About the Intensive
Join us for a landmark event as kaDON, in partnership with Yamatai and ECTC 2026, presents kaDON’s first East Coast Taiko Intensive!
We are thrilled to present a special three-day intensive led by Grammy-nominated artist Shoji Kameda, taking place from Wednesday, February 11th to Friday, February 13th, immediately preceding the East Coast Taiko Conference. This immersive workshop is your chance to be part of taiko history, learning a new piece directly from its co-composer and preparing for its exciting first performance on the East Coast.
This intensive will focus on “Minnasong,” a groundbreaking new piece co-composed by Shoji Kameda and Eri Uchida designed with a simple, powerful philosophy: there is a place for everyone in taiko. True to its name, “Minnasong” (Everyone’s Song) features a wide range of parts, from accessible lines for newer players to challenging passages that will engage even the most seasoned performers. The piece incorporates katsugi okedo, nagado, shime, and okejime, creating a rich, orchestral tapestry. Our focus will be on building solid katsugi fundamentals and, most importantly, honing the ensemble skills needed to feel a unified pulse and play as one cohesive voice.
Beyond just learning the notes, this intensive is about embodying the communal spirit that “Minnasong” represents. Participants will delve into the nuances of ensemble playing, learning how the different rhythmic voices interlock to form a powerful whole. This is a unique opportunity to not only study a significant new work from the inside out, but also to perform it for the wider community at the East Coast Taiko Conference. Come be a part of this inaugural kaDON East Coast event and help us share the joy of “Minnasong” and bring the piece back to your own group!
About Your Instructors
Shoji Kameda
Shoji Kameda is a Grammy-nominated musician, composer, and producer. A lifelong taiko artist (starting at age 8), he has performed with icons like Stevie Wonder, composed award winning soundtracks, and was a founding member of and the primary creative force of the genre-blurring group On Ensemble. In 2014 he cofounded kaDON, a dynamic taiko initiative empowering taiko players worldwide through workshops, original repertoire, high-quality instruments, and accessible online resources. Shoji’s work bridges tradition and innovation making him a defining voice in the contemporary taiko world.
Elias Chanteloup
Elias Chanteloup (he/him) started playing Taiko at the age of 9. He first saw Taiko being performed at the San Mateo Buddhist Temple and started playing with San Francisco aiko Dojo shortly after. He studied under Grandmaster Seiichi Tanaka for 10 years until he went off to college in Seattle. He was one of the founding members of Seattle University’s Hidaka Taiko and post-COVID became the artistic director for Inochi Taiko. He has performed Taiko all across the US and toured around the world.
