players, teachers & staff

Neil Mackie

Founder member of Mugenkyo Taiko Drummers
Mugen Taiko Dojo teacher

Mackie trained in Japan with Masaaki Kurumaya Sensei from 1992 to 1994, obtaining a cultural visa to further his training. In 1994 he returned to the UK to form Mugenkyo Taiko Drummers with co-founder Miyuki. Onstage, Mackie is a powerful Odaiko big drum player and is the Jiuchi base rhythm “comandante".

Previously a kit drummer with various bands in hometown Bristol and in London, playing a variety of styles from rock, punk, reggae to soul. In addition to performing taiko professionally since 1994, he taught the UK’s first public taiko drum classes at Goldsmith’s College in London in 1995.

Mackie is the driving force of the group, relentlessly pushing the team ever forward as its visionary leader, its artistic director, and overseeing the running of the organisation.

Miyuki Williams

Founder member of Mugenkyo Taiko Drummers
Mugen Taiko Dojo teacher

Co-founder of Mugenkyo, Miyuki also trained in Japan under Kurumaya Sensei. Born of a Japanese mother and Welsh father, she spent her childhood in Indonesia, Malaysia & USA. As a child she studied the piano and Nihon Buyo classical Japanese dance, which has influenced her playing style.

A powerful and graceful player with incredible stamina, Miyuki expresses her joy of life through her playing and teaching.

Teresa Brookes

Senior member of Mugenkyo Taiko Drummers
Mugen Taiko Dojo teacher

Originally from the Isle of Arran, Teresa joined Mugenkyo full-time in 2000 after being involved in classes and workshops since 1998, and has become an integral part of the group with her energetic and athletic playing.

Multi- talented musician, Teresa performs the shinobue bamboo flute and the didgeridoo, as well as playing the guitar and piano in her spare time. Her latest venture has been learning the shamisen Japanese stringed lute. Teresa has a particular interest in the traditional forms of taiko, having travelled to Japan on four study trips to further her knowledge.

Peter Tagg

Member of Mugenkyo Taiko Drummers

Peter has been training at the Dojo since May 2004, and has a background in Jeet Kune Do (a form of Kung Fu), teaching Samba in schools and performing Djembe & Congas with club DJs.

Peter was a “tour player” on the Mugenkyo autumn 2006 tour and the spring 2007 tour, before earning his position as a full-time trainee member in July 2007.

Peter is a popular team player at the Dojo, hard-working & with an effervescent personality.

Lynn Tonner

MTD Office & Base staff

Liz Lauchlan

MTD Office & Base staff

Katy McAulay

Senior member of Dojo Drummers
Tour player on Mugenkyo spring tour 2006

Katy has been training at the Dojo since May 2004, known as “Combat Kate” for her military precision. An energetic performer, she studied highland dancing as a child, as well as playing piano.

Katy is a novelist and screenwriter, and has just completed her first novel. She also works as a freelance journalist in between taiko performances.

Shonagh Walker

Senior member of Dojo Drummers
Tour player on the Way of the Drum tour 2006

Shonagh began her training at the Dojo in October 2003. She actuallystarted playing taiko at age 17 with her school group “Yakamashii Taiko” at Cleveden School in Glasgow, making her one of the most experienced players to come out of Scotland.

Shonagh is currently a student at Strathclyde University studying biomolecular and medicinal chemistry in her spare time!

Jen McFadden

Senior member of Dojo Drummers
Tour player on the Way of the Drum tour 2007

Jen started training at the Dojo in May 2004 after first playing taiko at a weekend workshop at the dojo. She has since become a mainstay of the Taiko Academy, gradually developing her trademark beautifully fluid style of playing.

Jen has also assisted on several Dojo outreach teaching projects. In Taiko Academy, she is affectionately known as “The Beast"!

Jess Brown

Member of Dojo Drummers

Jess started learning taiko with an all-women community group in Oita prefecture while at the same time learning karate, Japanese language and drama. After becoming involved with the world-renowned taiko group “Tao” behind the scenes, she applied successfully to become a trainee with the group. After 4 months living a spartan lifestyle as a Tao trainee, Jess left Japan and returned to the UK in November 2005, living in a campervan through the cold Scottish winter whilst training with Project Taiko at the Dojo. She was accepted into Taiko Academy in March 2006, and has now settled permanently in Edinburgh.

Fiona Stoddart

Member of Dojo Drummers

Originally from Dunfermline, Fi first encountered taiko drumming at a Mugenkyo concert and workshop at Aberdeen University in 2004, where she was studying music. Within her music degree, Fi specialised in percussion performance, with her main instrument being the marimba. She started training at the dojo in 2006, progressing to become a regular member of the Dojo Drummers. In 2008 she joined Mugenkyo on the Scottish leg of their autumn tour, and has since joined the group full-time.

Jamie Wallace

Member of Dojo Drummers

Jamie started at the dojo in 2005 with the weekly group Taiko Night, as well as attending guest teacher workshops at the dojo by Katsuji Kondo and Hiroshi Motofuji. In addition to training at the dojo, Jamie attended workshops in London by taiko master Motofuji. His enthusiasm and hard work led him to gaining a plaace in taiko Academy in 2007, and has since becomne a regular performing member of the Dojo Drummers.

Jennifer Minto

Member of Dojo Drummers

Jennifer started playing taiko at the age of 16 with the very first schools taiko group in Scotland: "Psycho Taiko", based at Cleveden Secondary School. Whilst an archaeology student at Glasgow University, she joined us at the dojo in 2004, first with Project Taiko, then with the Taiko Night group, gradually progressing to join Taiko Academy in 2007. Jen is affectionately known as "Minty".

Currently Training:

Joao Madeira
Carolyn Cutter