ELLEN REIKO BEPP is a painter, textile artist and taiko musician. For over 30 years she has endeavored to give voice to her Japanese cultural roots, to honor nature as well as to address political concerns both through her visual expression and the language of the drum. Her artwork has been exhibited nationally in galleries and museums and she co-founded an arts live/work complex in Oakland. Ellen began studying taiko in 1974 under Grand Master Seiichi Tanaka, founder of the San Francisco Taiko Dojo. She went on to become an original member of the third taiko group of North America, San Jose Taiko, thus joining the ranks of the second generation of taiko players. Since then she has performed professionally with various groups and currently plays and tours with the Bay Area based Somei Yoshino Taiko Ensemble.