Taiko Center of the Pacific is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2022-2023 TCP Fellowships. Congratulations to Morgan Chan and Sarah English!  We look forward to your joining our Ohana!

APPLICATION deadline extended to June 15, 2023 for 2023-2024 Fellowship Year. Applicant’s must be at least 18 years old. The maximum age has been lifted.

Application for 2023-2024 is available NOW! 

A one-year scholarship to study traditional and contemporary taiko in Honolulu, Hawaii.  The Fellowship normally begins in summer; however, the start date is flexible.  New application deadline is June 15.

“The TCP Fellowship acted as a jet-fueled launch pad for my career as a professional taiko drummer. The combination of knowledge, technique, mindset, and connections that you gain at TCP are exactly what you need if you are looking at taking yourself to the next level.”
-Christopher Holland, former TCP Fellow

TCP Fellowship Frequently Asked Questions

We look forward your joining our TCP Ohana (family) in Honolulu soon!

List of past & present fellows

Fellowship Includes:

• $250 one-time cash stipend. Opportunity to participate in any regular TCP class. Placement in the TCP Performing Ensemble Trainee Program with the opportunity to become a performing member of the Honolulu ensemble.

Other Benefits:

• Opportunities to study hogaku hayashi, matsuri bayashi, lion dance, and fue through discounted private lessons with Kenny Endo.
• Possible part-time taiko teaching assistant position in the summer.
• Possible part-time employment as an administrative and/or teaching staff member.
• A large and close-knit taiko community.
• Opportunities to travel and perform on neighbor islands.
• Access to quality higher education opportunities at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, Kapiolani Community College, Chaminade University, and Hawaii Pacific University.
• Great weather! Great food! Great beaches!

Eligibility:

• Fellowship recipients must be at least 18 years of age.
• Minimum of 3 years taiko experience, or an equivalent combination of experience in taiko and other performing arts.
• Applicants must submit, by mail or online: an application form, 10 minute audition videotape (DVD or YouTube), and an application essay. Finalists may be interviewed via telephone by members of TCP Performing Ensemble.
• One-year commitment required with possibility for renewal. Approximately 10-15 hours/week in practice, teaching and administrative assistance.

Who should apply?

• Members of youth taiko groups who are interested in pursuing their undergraduate degrees in Hawaii.
• Members of collegiate taiko groups who are interested in pursuing graduate degrees in Hawaii.
• Any other member of the taiko community interested in pursuing this unique opportunity.

Application Form:  TCP Fellowship Application

Deadline: June 15, 2023 for 2023-2024 Fellowship Year. 

For more information, contact:  takoarts@gmail.com

To submit online: please email to taikoarts@gmail.com

To submit by mail, please mail to:

Taiko Center of the Pacific
4348 Waialae Avenue #357
Honolulu, HI 96816

Attn: TCP Fellowship

A message from the a recent TCP Fellowship Recipient:

“From the learning and performing opportunities to the sense of community, my fellowship this year has been nothing short of an enriching experience. I have learned so much about the rich history and practice of taiko from Kenny Endo and Chizuko Endo, and through the extensive repertoire at TCP and the creativity and skills players bring to the ensemble, I have also seen how expansive taiko as an neo-tradtional art form can be. This fellowship is a great opportunity for anyone looking to expand their skills as a taiko player and artist, particularly as it helps you build a strong foundation and grow through being challenged and inspired by the people around you. Another valuable aspect of the fellowship is the multitude of intercultural connections that can be made through the music that we play, the communities that we perform for, and the people who come to learn at TCP. Some of my most memorable experiences include helping teach taiko at a Hawaiian immersion school and transferring Hawaiian words to beats on the drum as well as flying to the island of Moloka’i to create music with students based on spoken word. Most important, however, is the sense of community and belonging I have felt in this group. Making the decision to move to Hawai’i might be difficult, but from the moment I arrived, I felt well supported by everyone around me. Kenny Endo and Chizuko Endo as well as the rest of the people in TCP have truly made me feel as if I were a part of a taiko family. No matter what path I end up taking in the future, these experiences and connections will be forever infinitely invaluable to me.”