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, and loves the freedom of expression and the whole-body experience of taiko. Taiko is a way for her 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 is the founder of Yama no Oto, and also a former Performing Member and Artistic Director of Calgary's community taiko group Midnight Taiko Kai. 

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Paula teaches taiko at the Mount Royal Conservatory, and welcomes students of any age or ability to come try taiko classes. Taiko is a lot of fun, a great workout, and there are classes for Beginners, as well as experienced taiko players. Also at the MRU Conservatory, Paula directs the Rocky Mountain Taiko Ensemble, the performance ensemble comprised of the most advanced students at the Conservatory.