Principal and Students Take to the Stage to Beat Their Own Drums

Matthew O’Connell, principal of Botelle School, learns to beat the big drum, known as taiko.

Taiko means “drum” in Japanese but in this country generally refers to a traditional style of Japanese drumming on a variety of percussion instruments. In a lively session in Botelle’s auditorium on December 9, the One World Taiko ensemble demonstrated the heart-pounding beats, dynamic movement and rhythmic grooves of the ancient festival drumming tradition. The school’s principal, Matthew O’Connell, was called to the stage to beat on the large, barrel-shaped drums, where, under expert coaching, he quickly displayed a surprising adeptness. He was joined by a number of Botelle students who efforlessly got into the spirit of taiko. The performers, a husband-and-wife team, interwove elements Japanese language and lore into their display. The event was funded by the Botelle School PTO.

Photographs by Savage Frieze.

Students join the performers onstage.