OnnanoKo began as a goal to create a new sound by combining traditional Japanese rhythms with Western musical influences. The name of our group translates to young woman in the Japanese language. The K is capatilized to refer to the ending of the Japanese word for drum, taiko. We are currently working on new and innovative compositions that reflect our experience, curiosity and appreciation of different cultures from around the globe. Feel free to browse around our new website. We are continuously updating and adding information so, please visit regularly.

What people are saying:

"The heart of OnnanoKo throbs in time with Japan's stirring taiko drumming tradition and glows with the pulses of several ethnic musics performed on a variety of instruments by this dedicated group of talented percussionist musicians."

                                                                                                 -- Paul Dutton, writer and vocal sound artist

"OnnanoKo is one of the most exciting percussion ensembles I've seen! These five classically trained young women bring a fresh passion to the art of Japanese Taiko."

                                                                                   --Karen Ages, musician and WholeNote columnist

"OnnanoKo Drumming Ensemble is pure energy - five high-power, high-octane, highly creative performances that inspire, mesmerize and electrify audiences of all ages. Their performances at the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre have been runaway hits."

                                                                                                                                   Canadian Opera Company

"The OnnanoKo Drumming Ensemble members are artist-educators participating in the Canadian Opera Company's Operaworks program. Their collaborative nature, enthusiasm and professionalism make them valuable team members from planning to debriefing. While working with the 11-13 year-olds in our program, they actively engaged the participants in a variety of ways, using performance, hands-on learning, and collaborative brainstorming techniques; our participants developed imaginative soundscapes using percussive instruments and found objects, and were guided by the OnnanoKo artists the whole way through. What makes OnnanoKo stand out as great artist-educators is that they listen to participants, gently challenge them to push ideas into further artistic realms, and inspire a sense of teamwork and joy in creating music together. The Operaworks participants gained so much from the OnnanoKo workshops; both parents and students commented on how interesting and fun the percussion sessions were."

                                               --Jessi Linn Davies, Community Outreach Associate 

                                                                                                                                  Canadian Opera Company