Marinda Chen started taiko training with Seattle Kokon Taiko in October 1999. Prior to discovering taiko and joining the group, she has a background on classical piano, Karate, general physical conditioning training. To her, taiko is an unique art form that embraces martial arts, artistic visual performance, musical and rhythmic challenges, and an important tool for the expression for Asian culture. Over the years, Ms. Chen has evolved into an ethusiastic taiko performer. In June of 2001, she has taken the initiatives to further her taiko studies at the Summer Taiko Institute (with San Jose Taiko) and the Taiko conference at LA. The experience has transformed and heightened her enthusiasm and energy with taiko. She has since become SKT’s warm-up leader, drill sergeant, and SKT board member. She also spends a great deal of time maintaining SKT’s website, web calendar and email distribution list, among other miscellaneous administrative tasks. Ms. Chen's is fortunate to have taken other taiko workshops studying with Kenny Endo (STI 2002), Tiffany Tamaribuchi, Seido Kobayashi of Oedo Sekuroku, Seiichi Tanaka, Marco Lienhard, Kevin Higa, John Greenaway, Russel Baba and Jeanne Mercer, Shinobu, and Yoko Fujimoto, Chieko Kojima and Eiichi Saito of the Kodo Arts Sphere America. Ms. Chen’s most memorable taiko performances include parades and concert performer at Boise River Festival, ID; TA at workshops and show performer at WOMAD USA FESTIVAL; part of the featuring SKT artists for the Symphony Breathe at the Benaroya Symphony Hall; part the of the taiko ensemble at the LA Little Tokyo parade with Kenny Kodo and the rest of the fellow STI 2002 classmates and most currently, at the Town Hall "Dance to the Music" show. Ms. Chen has a BA degree in Information Systems and a BFA degree in Photography, both from the University of Washington. She currently works as a Software Developer at the Washington Mutual Bank. Ms. Chen is very active in the community, her other involvements include being a past vice-president of the Chinese American Association for Professionals, she has also been the Captain of CAAP’s Dragon Boat Racing Team 2 years in a roll. Ms. Chen has kept up with her physical conditioning through active gym participation. She enjoys cardio kickboxing and weight lifting. Her other hobbies include cooking, traveling, Tai Chi, Ping Pong and photography. Ms. Chen is fluent in written and spoken Mandarin and Cantonese.