Ren Zoshi's Dream
Donation protected
Hi everyone!
I am Ren Zoshi, a 18-year-old from Northern California. On Sunday, March 15th, I want to give a taiko recital of my own before I leave for Japan. I am writing this note to raise money for the recital and the cost for the apprentice program I will be going through as well.
Initially, my mom and I did not want to start a GoFundMe to raise money for me to go to Japan and train, but after emailing many places all the replies were either; "We don't give grants to individuals" or "We only give grants who are enrolling or enrolled in college." So we decided it would be better to do a GoFundMe after all, although we are not sure how it will go.
My mother is very hard-working and she has raised by herself for the past couple of years. She has been doing everything in her power to help me make my dream of having a taiko career in Japan come true. My mother has worked hard so that every summer I am able to go to Japan and study more taiko, tsuzumi, and other Japanese traditional arts, and I am
I want to do this recital because in April I will be going to Sado Island, and this recital is also a fundraiser for the two year training I will being doing as well, each year the cost is about $10k per year. But the main reason I'm doing this recital is that it's been my goal to do a “last concert” with everyone before I go. This recital is a way for me to say thank you to my family, teachers, taiko and dance members, and my school as well for supporting me for so long. Without these people I wouldn’t be where I am today or have learned the lessons I've learned. Even though I can never pay back all the support they have given me, I think the best way is to end it with a fun recital.
This money would go to the costs of location, guest performers, equipment, food/drinks, and other fees that might be needed for the event. Please help me put on this recital so I can raise the money I need to go to Japan and pursue my dream of becoming a professional taiko player
Thank you!!
I am Ren Zoshi, a 18-year-old from Northern California. On Sunday, March 15th, I want to give a taiko recital of my own before I leave for Japan. I am writing this note to raise money for the recital and the cost for the apprentice program I will be going through as well.
Initially, my mom and I did not want to start a GoFundMe to raise money for me to go to Japan and train, but after emailing many places all the replies were either; "We don't give grants to individuals" or "We only give grants who are enrolling or enrolled in college." So we decided it would be better to do a GoFundMe after all, although we are not sure how it will go.
My mother is very hard-working and she has raised by herself for the past couple of years. She has been doing everything in her power to help me make my dream of having a taiko career in Japan come true. My mother has worked hard so that every summer I am able to go to Japan and study more taiko, tsuzumi, and other Japanese traditional arts, and I am
very thankful for that. Without her I would not be who I am today.
When I was 9 years old, I first saw a professional taiko group from Sado. That moment changed me and I realized how cool drumming and Japanese culture were,—and also how music can go far beyond words. Because of this mind-blowing experience I told my mom that day that I was going to be on that stage playing taiko with that group one day. Ever since then, my dream has become bigger and more all-consuming. Although I didn’t start taiko until 7 months later, I pushed my mom to find me lessons, and that is when I joined Sonoma County Taiko. Over the past 8 years, I've thought every day about joining this taiko team, and have taken steps to make that possible. But back then, I imagined myself getting to join the apprentice program at age 18 in 2020. It was the only future I imagined.
Though as years go on of practicing two times a week, with two rehearsals, one performance on the weekend pretty much every week, I wanted to expand.
I also joined Ensohza Minyoushu when was 11 years old just for my dream. So when I was around 12 I joined Oh-In Taiko in Richmond, California. My mother would drive once a week for an hour and a half, then another 20min or more to San Francisco where Ensohza is. I even had the chance study taiko and tsuzumi and taiko with Saburou Mochitzuki in Japan which just only broaden my view towards taiko and Japanese traditional instruments. Now, I have graduated from high school a semester early just for this group.
When I was 9 years old, I first saw a professional taiko group from Sado. That moment changed me and I realized how cool drumming and Japanese culture were,—and also how music can go far beyond words. Because of this mind-blowing experience I told my mom that day that I was going to be on that stage playing taiko with that group one day. Ever since then, my dream has become bigger and more all-consuming. Although I didn’t start taiko until 7 months later, I pushed my mom to find me lessons, and that is when I joined Sonoma County Taiko. Over the past 8 years, I've thought every day about joining this taiko team, and have taken steps to make that possible. But back then, I imagined myself getting to join the apprentice program at age 18 in 2020. It was the only future I imagined.
Though as years go on of practicing two times a week, with two rehearsals, one performance on the weekend pretty much every week, I wanted to expand.
I also joined Ensohza Minyoushu when was 11 years old just for my dream. So when I was around 12 I joined Oh-In Taiko in Richmond, California. My mother would drive once a week for an hour and a half, then another 20min or more to San Francisco where Ensohza is. I even had the chance study taiko and tsuzumi and taiko with Saburou Mochitzuki in Japan which just only broaden my view towards taiko and Japanese traditional instruments. Now, I have graduated from high school a semester early just for this group.
I want to do this recital because in April I will be going to Sado Island, and this recital is also a fundraiser for the two year training I will being doing as well, each year the cost is about $10k per year. But the main reason I'm doing this recital is that it's been my goal to do a “last concert” with everyone before I go. This recital is a way for me to say thank you to my family, teachers, taiko and dance members, and my school as well for supporting me for so long. Without these people I wouldn’t be where I am today or have learned the lessons I've learned. Even though I can never pay back all the support they have given me, I think the best way is to end it with a fun recital.
This money would go to the costs of location, guest performers, equipment, food/drinks, and other fees that might be needed for the event. Please help me put on this recital so I can raise the money I need to go to Japan and pursue my dream of becoming a professional taiko player
Thank you!!
Organizer
Ren Zoshi
Organizer
Sebastopol, CA
