named programs · 3 · from sources
What they call their work
East Winds Ensemble Concert Series
Concerts showcasing shakuhachi and koto music, including traditional honkyoku, folk songs, and contemporary compositions, performed domestically and internationally
School Outreach and Educational Performances
Program delivering in-person and virtual performances and workshops to schools across the United States, promoting cultural education through Japanese music
Taikoza: Voice of the Earth
Performance tour featuring traditional and original taiko drumming pieces, combining dynamic rhythms with storytelling and spiritual themes from Japanese culture
activities · 7 groups
What they do
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Music Education and Training Programs 1 activity
- Delivering educational performances and school programsConducts educational performances in public and private schools across New York City and in the broader Northeast region (including New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and Virginia), as well as internationally in Japan, Europe, and South America. These programs, delivered in partnership with organizations like Young Audiences and Symphony Space, reached over 22,000 students annually and include both in-person and virtual school shows, with approximately 30 conducted in a recent year.
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Free Outdoor Music Concerts 1 activity
- Hosting free summer concerts and community eventsHosts free summer concerts and community programs for families and children in New York City parks and libraries, supported by grant funding and program administration. These events are part of ongoing outreach efforts to engage local communities with Japanese cultural music.
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Nonprofit Retail and Merchandise Sales 1 activity
- Operating an online store for musical instruments and merchandiseOperates an online store selling taiko drums, bamboo flutes, books, and other merchandise, offering these items directly to the public for purchase.
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Traditional & Cultural Performing Arts 1 activity
- Participating in cultural festivals and public eventsOrganizes and participates in cultural events such as Natsu Matsuri, featuring performances by affiliated artists and student groups, as part of broader public engagement with Japanese arts and culture.
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Classical and Chamber Music Performances 1 activity
- Presenting annual concert series in New York City and beyondPresents over 70 concerts annually in New York City, including performances at venues such as Symphony Space, Isham Park, Grand Central Station, and Madison Square Garden, as well as concerts in other U.S. cities and international locations. The organization also conducts regular performances domestically and abroad, with recent activity in Europe, Japan, Mexico, South America, and Brazil.
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Nonprofit Music Recording and Distribution 1 activity
- Producing and distributing recorded musicProduces and distributes musical albums featuring shakuhachi and koto music through major digital platforms, with recordings streamed over 13 million times on Spotify. The organization has released best-selling CDs, including music featured in Nintendo’s Wii games Red Steel 1 and 2.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Conducting workshops and master classesConducts workshops and master classes both domestically and internationally, with approximately 45 conducted in a recent year, covering taiko drumming, bamboo flutes, and related Japanese musical traditions.
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financials · form 990EZ · fy2025
revenue
Total revenue$124K
Contributions & grants$45K36%
Program service revenue$78K63%
Investment income——
Other revenue$2K
expenses
Total expenses$95K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits$59K
Grants paid out—
balance sheet
Total assets$30K
Cash—
Investments—
Liabilities—
Net assets$28K
6 years on record · 2020–2025 · YoY revenue -3.1%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2025
Who runs it
paid leadership · 2
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marco Lienhard | Executive Dir. | 40 | $57K |
| Masayo Ishigure Tokue | Director | 1 | $2K |
board members · 3
- Francine McCully — Director
- Michiko Hayashi — Director
- Patricia Cruz — Trustee
relationships · 16
Who they work with
- ELA Taiko Partner — Collaborates on performances during events such as Natsu Matsuri.
- East Winds Ensemble Partner — East Winds Ensemble is a traditional Japanese music group presented by East Winds, Inc.
- Japan Foundation Partner — Collaborated on an international tour of Brazil.
- Lower Manhattan Cultural Council Government — Administers funding for summer concert programs in NYC parks.
- Maceo Hernandez Taiko Partner — Collaborates on performances with students and members during events such as Natsu Matsuri.
- NYC Department of Cultural Affairs Government — Primary grant funder supporting summer concert series in NYC parks.
- Symphony Space Partner — Partner organization for delivering educational programs in New York City.
- Symphony Space Partner — Partner organization for school and public performance programs, including the Asian program in 2019.
- Taikoza Network — Collaborates with Taikoza ensemble under shared programming and branding.
- Taikoza Partner — Collaborative performance group co-led by Marco Lienhard alongside East Winds Ensemble.
- Taikoza Partner — Performance group associated with East Winds Inc that presents Japanese taiko drumming and flute music.
- Taikoza Partner — Taikoza is a Japanese drum group presented by East Winds, Inc. as part of its programming.
- Taikoza.com Partner — Collaborates with East Winds, Inc. on a donation campaign to support 2022 programs.
- Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone Development Corporation Government — Funder supporting summer concert programs in New York City.
- Young Audiences Network — Member of the Young Audiences roster on the East Coast.
- Young Audiences Partner — Partner organization through which Taikoza delivers school performance programs.
strategies · 3
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Cultural Education Through Performancemethodology: cultural-education-through-performanceBy combining live performances, workshops, and new works rooted in Japanese and Asian musical traditions, we increase public understanding and engagement with these cultures, because experiential and artistic immersion fosters deeper cultural learning than didactic methods alone.
- Cultural Synthesis in Musical Practicemethodology: cultural-synthesisBy integrating Western classical, jazz, and other traditions into koto and shakuhachi performance, we expand the expressive range of traditional Japanese instruments, because cross-traditional fusion makes these art forms more accessible and relevant to contemporary and diverse audiences.
- Meditative Performance as Spiritual Expressionmethodology: meditative-performanceBy using shakuhachi music as a meditative practice rooted in Zen Buddhist tradition, we cultivate spiritual expression and audience reflection through minimalist, intentional sound, because the aesthetic and ritual discipline of this form creates a contemplative space that transcends entertainment.