Ju Percussion Group Photo: Supplied
Taiwan’s first professional percussion ensemble, Ju Percussion Group, was founded in 1986 by Tzong-Ching Ju who still leads the group today.
The ensemble performed in New Zealand for the first time as part of the Auckland Arts Festival and it’s the 35th country the group have performed in.
Their concert will include Kyoto, a work written by New Zealand composer John Psathas for the group’s 25th anniversary back in 2011.
John Psathas and two senior members of Ju Ensemble, Pei-Ching Wu and Kuen-Yean Hwang, spoke to RNZ Concert’s David Morriss ahead of the concert on Saturday 15 March.
"Something that’s very striking about Ju Percussion is the intensity with which they play everything. They bring everything to every note, and so it’s an incredible spectacle and musical experience," says Psathas.
"I would call it a ‘powerhouse group’ - there’s something very special about it.”
