Biography
ASCAP award winning contemporary composer, Yoko Nakahashi is also known as her Buddhist name Laiyo. Founder of Navy Yard Taiko, and taiko instructor for various institutions, her composition has been performed by Neos Quartet, JACK Quartet, and many well-received musicians such as a Decimette lead by David Del Tredici. Laiyo has been appearing on WPIX, NY1 News, Fox5, and many others. Yoko has been internationally performing as a taiko drummer in various location such as USA, Japan, UK, Barbados et al. She has been certified to teach Osuwa Daiko music to various levels of taiko players. Yoko has been writing music and performing live sound effects for many theater groups, martial arts troops, and dance companies, as well as performing with groups and giving workshops internationally.
Yoko is an official taiko instructor of Columbia Taiko, Brooklyn Nijinokakehashi Japanese Cultural Center, Bianko, and guest instructor for schools and community based taiko groups, 2017 and 2019 NATC, and 2020 ECTC workshop leader.
In 2016, Navy Yard Taiko was founded to support collegiate and emerging taiko groups for the need of taiko drums. This operation is now under Asturina Music LLC.
