Yama no Oto is a small ensemble of taiko performers who love drumming together. We play a variety of modern and traditional taiko pieces for a well-rounded audience experience.

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Please note that due to COVID-19, we are currently limiting our performances to outdoor venues only. We are also not offering performances that include shinobue (Japanese flute) due to health concerns of spreading the virus. We wish all of our community the safest environment possible.

Paula Midori Nieckar is passionate about taiko as an art. With a lifelong background of training in classical music and ballet, Paula incorporates graceful movement, musicality, and a dance-like quality to her taiko performance. She loves the freedom of expression and the whole-body experience of taiko.

 

Taiko is a way to connect to her Japanese heritage and culture, and is very much like life: always flowing and changing, and always teaching you about yourself. Paula has been performing taiko since 2011 and is the founder of Yama no Oto, and also a former Performing Member/Artistic Director of Calgary's community taiko group Midnight Taiko Kai. Paula also founded and maintained the successful taiko program at the MRU Conservatory, including the Rocky Mountain Taiko Ensemble, until COVID paused those operations.

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Paula welcomes students of any age or ability to try taiko classes. There are classes for Beginners to experienced taiko players.