This summer has brought both joy and sadness to all of us at Watsonville Taiko. We had great fun drumming for Santa Cruz's young readers at the Public Library's Festival of the Book. but while we were packing up, police across the street were searching for a missing child. And, as with the rest of the community, we mourned the next evening when we heard about the death of Maddy Middleton. We will be joining the Tannery community as they continue the healing process at the Santa Cruz Ethnic Dance Festival on September 19th.  Please join us as we celebrate the beauty and healing power of dance and music.

We also lost a former youth drummer.  Collette "Coco" Lazenby died in a car accident in early August.  Coco drummed with Watsonville Taiko during 2013 and 2014. She first performed with us at Morgan Hill's Harumatsuri Festival, and her culminating performance with us was at our 22nd Anniversary Show at the Crocker Theater in February 2014. After leaving WatsonvilleTaiko she continued her community service, helping with the Homeless Garden Project and staring in Wonderland, She will be missed by many.

Despite the sadness, there were many days of celebration including the 4th of July at New Brighton Campground, Obon at the Watsonville Buddhist Temple, and the Church Street Fair; part of the Cabrillo Festival of Music. Our summer of celebrations wrapped up last weekend as we celebrated Ikuyo sensei's birthday!

Please join us this fall as we continue celebrating the power and beauty of music and taiko drumming.