Thomas Shuichi Kurai

Lecturer

Tel:  (626) 307-3839
www.taikocenter.com

Rev. Kurai is the abbot of Sozenji Buddhist Temple in Montebello, CA.  He began playing taiko in 1975 with several taiko groups in the U.S. and in Japan.  In 1996, he founded the Taiko Center of Los Angeles to promote the art of taiko through performances and teaching classes in the community.  He has been teaching the Taiko Ensemble in the UCR Music Department since 1999.  Rev. Kurai also conducted workshops in schools for the Los Angeles Music Center Education Division and teaches taiko as music therapy at the Patton State Hospital in San Bernardino.  Rev. Kurai directs the performing taiko ensembles, Satori Daiko and Shinzen Daiko.  He has performed at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, UCLA Royce Hall, Japan America Theatre, the John Anson Ford Amphitheatre, and at the 1998 Super Bowl   Rev. Kurai has worked on film composer Hans Zimmer's scores for The Thin Red Line and The Last Samurai.  He has received the Dramalogue, L.A. Weekly, Inland Theatre League, and the Lester Horton Dance Award for outstanding musical achievement in live theater and dance.

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