Photo by Arthur Mok
Biography
- Berklee College of Music Graduate (Magna Cum Laude)
- Longy School of Music of Bard College (Master of Arts)
- Principal Drummer of Amanojaku 2006-2011
- Performances at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center
Isaku Kageyama is a taiko performer and educator working with Los Angeles Taiko Institute and Asano Taiko US UnitOne. His resume includes performances on networks such as NBC and VH1, venues such as Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and tours of across the world.
Formerly a principal drummer of premiere ensemble Amanojaku, he holds a Bachelor of Music from the Berklee College of Music and a Master of Arts from Longy School of Music of Bard College.
He is also a two-time National Odaiko (large drum) Champion, becoming the youngest person to win highest honors at the Mt. Fuji Odaiko Contest in 2000, and Hokkaido in 2003.
From 2011-2014, Isaku was the resident taiko instructor at Wellesley University and the University of Connecticut, and has held taiko clinics at Berklee College of Music, Stanford, Brown, Cornell, North American Taiko Conference, and the East Coast Taiko Conference.
In 2015, Isaku was commissioned by Asano Taiko US to compose “Rei.” The composition premiered at North American Taiko Conference, the largest taiko event in the US. Bringing a breadth of music composition and production knowledge to the table, his music has been broadcast in countries such as the United States, UK, Italy, South Korea, and Norway.