Taiko artist and teacher Jennifer Weir to speak at Adoptee Hub event

The organizer  of a global women taiko drummers event in the Twin Cities is the featured speaker at the Adoptee Hub annual gala and fundraiser. The event will take place Saturday, April 27 in Roseville.

Korean adoptee Jennifer Weir, who created the project and is the founder of her own taiko school, Taiko Arts Midwest, will discuss her upbringing and her diverse career as an actor, producer, and drummer.

The convergence of women taiko artists from many countries in February 2022 was the first of its kind in history, and was captured in the documentary film Finding Her Beat, co-directed by Dawn Mikkelson (producer, director) and Keri Piekett (director of photography, editor). The film will be screened at the event.

Weir is also the artistic director of Ensō Daiko and a performing member of the taiko group Ensemble-MA, led by Iris Shiraishi.  Weir is also a theater director and dramaturg with Theater Mu, and a past recipient of grants for composing, producing and performing new music.

Weir was brought up in North Dakota, and had no references during her upbringing to Asian American culture, community or identity. As a young adult in Minneapolis, she found her way to the Asian American theater organization Theater Mu and its taiko performance group Mu Daiko (now Enso Daiko).

Weir writes in her bio that “Taiko allows me to become a bigger, better version of myself. It integrates my mind, body and spirit. It allows me to embody strength, grace, and to claim and celebrate my ‘Asian-ness.’ ”

Adoptee Hub is a Twin Cities service and advocacy organization for and about adult Korean adoptees. It offers regular events and facilitates services for adult adoptees to assist in travel to Korea, translation and birth parent searches. Tickets are $25 until April 1, $35 April 1-26 and  and $45 on the day of the event. In-person attendees of any other Adoptee Hub event in March and April can purchase Gala tickets for $25.