Name: Drum Tao
Start: 2026-04-01T19:30:00
Location: Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall

Prepare to be captivated by Drum Tao, the sensational Japanese drumming ensemble that masterfully blends traditional Wadaiko drumming with contemporary stagecraft. Celebrated around the globe, Drum Tao's performances are a mesmerizing mix of athleticism, music, and visual artistry. With events at prestigious venues across the United States, from Virginia to California, audiences are in for an exhilarating experience that transcends cultural and musical boundaries. Discover the artistry and unique soundscapes of Drum Tao, a group that redefines the concept of 'Japanese Entertainment' for a new generation.

Drum Tao: The Rhythmic Symphony of Modern Japanese Entertainment

Back by popular demand, Drum Tao, the Japanese drumming sensation, is set to return to the United States, captivating audiences with its electrifying performances. This tour brings together a fusion of traditional Wadaiko drumming with contemporary flair, showcasing athleticism, vibrant costumes, and an unforgettable theatrical experience. From Manassas, VA to Portland, OR, this tour promises to be an exhilarating journey through sound and spectacle, drawing over 10 million spectators worldwide. Join us as we dive into what makes Drum Tao an unmissable global phenomenon.

Drum Tao: The Pulse-Pounding Japanese Drumming Experience Returns to the US

The Oregon Symphony's 2026 season promises a captivating exploration of classical and contemporary music. From the timeless masterpieces of Vivaldi and Mozart to the vibrant expressions of Celtic traditions and the mesmerizing beats of DRUM TAO, this season promises to engage audiences of all ages. Highlights include performances by world-renowned artists like Yo-Yo Ma and Daniil Trifonov, as well as family-friendly concerts that take young listeners on thrilling adventures through time and imagination. Join us as we delve into a season brimming with culture, history, and spectacular performances.

Oregon Symphony's 2026 Season: A Harmonious Journey Through Time and Culture

Prepare to embark on a rhythmic journey like no other with Drum Tao. This world-renowned Japanese percussion group is set to dazzle audiences across the United States with their extraordinary blend of traditional Wadaiko drums, Japanese flutes, and harps, alongside breathtaking choreography. Over the course of three distinct events in Appleton, WI, Berkeley, CA, and Portland, OR, Drum Tao promises an unforgettable theatrical spectacle that fuses timeless drumming traditions with modern stagecraft, vibrant costumes, and dynamic lighting. Join us as we explore the electrifying performances and cultural significance of this acclaimed ensemble.

Drum Tao: A Rhythmic Odyssey Unveiling Japanese Percussive Mastery

Drum Tao

Oregon Symphony

There’s nothing like hiking across moors and encountering castle ruins to ignite the creative process—as Mendelssohn experienced it on a tour of Scotland. Holyrood Castle (where Mary Queen of Scots was crowned) inspired the mysterious mood of the Third Symphony’s opening. But the mists ultimately lift in the sunny, lively finale. Plus, Portland favorite Conrad Tao dazzles in Mozart’s 21st Piano Concerto, with its slow movement once described by biographer Maynard Solomon as “an entire movement of unrelieved, time-stopping beauty…for something just short of eternity.”

Mendelssohn's Scottish Symphony

Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall

Willamette University

Experience the power and grace of DRUM TAO, a world-renowned Japanese percussion  group, and be mesmerized by their synchronized drumming, martial arts, and acrobatic  performances.

A bracing whack from the percussionist’s “slap stick” launches Ravel’s Concerto on an effervescent romp, evoking the Harlem jazz clubs he visited with Gershwin. Riffs from the brasses and piano fireworks make for a breathless dash to the finish. Ravel’s lush Daphnis et Chloé opens with a radiant sunrise—golden strings, shimmering harps, bird calls—and ends with an orgiastic paean to love.

Ravel & Saint-Saëns

Hailed as “arguably the mightiest of the under-40 generation of superstar pianists” by The New York Times, celebrated pianist Daniil Trifonov’s acclaimed performances are astounding experiences to behold. In this highly anticipated concert, Trifonov brings his stunning technique and breathtaking talent to Portland for one dazzling performance.

Daniil Trifonov with the Oregon Symphony

Ahoy, mateys! Set sail on a swashbuckling adventure through the high seas with this pirate-themed show for young music lovers. Join a lively crew of musical buccaneers as they search for hidden treasure with rollicking pirate songs and interactive storytelling. Grab your map and prepare for an unforgettable voyage!

Ahoy! Melodies from the High Seas

This special performance from Yo-Yo Ma pairs repertoire from the center of his musical firmament with reflections on how it has shaped his thinking about art, human nature, and our search for meaning.

An Evening with Yo-Yo Ma

 Bask in Beethoven’s sun-infused, high-spirited Fourth Symphony, whose second movement, said Berlioz, sounds like “an angel singing at the gates of Paradise.” Plus, saxophonist Steven Banks performs Childs’ Diaspora , which the composer describes as “a symphonic poem which strives to chronicle the paradigm of the forced black American diaspora, as sifted through the prism of my own experience as a black man in America.”   

Beethoven's Symphony No. 4

Experience for yourself why Bruckner’s Seventh is his most cherished symphony. The hallmarks of his music are all there: the gradual unfolding of expansive melodies with ethereal strings and rich brass soundscapes expressing both majesty and serenity -- transporting you to a world beyond time. Our celebrated and award-winning cello soloist takes a star turn, capturing the poetry and exhilaration of Haydn’s Concerto.

Haydn & Bruckner

Fasten your seatbelt as Alessio Bax tackles Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 3, a creation of massive power and drive and one of the hardest-to-master works in the repertoire. After its premiere in New York City, a critic wrote that “its great length and extreme difficulties bar it from performances by any but pianists of exceptional technical powers.” Its quiet start leads into an astonishing unleashing of notes and hurtles to a riveting conclusion. Copland’s Third Symphony also was first presented in the U.S. Its spirit is undeniably “American”—vital, optimistic, and big-hearted—triumphantly exclaimed in the finale’s stirring “Fanfare for the Common Man.”

Copland & Rachmaninoff

Since its cult-classic debut in 1985, Clue has captivated audiences with its razor-sharp wit, eccentric characters, and endlessly quotable lines. Now, for the first time, the iconic murder-mystery comedy comes to life in Clue: Live in Concert, featuring the Oregon Symphony performing John Morris’ mischievous and suspenseful score in perfect sync with the film.

Clue: Live in Concert

Celebrate the timeless legacy of John Williams’ fan-favorite movie scores! Hear the masterpieces created by the legend behind music from Jurassic Park, E.T., Harry Potter, and more performed live by the Oregon Symphony.

The Music of John Williams

In this exciting program, Composer-in-Residence Andy Akiho presents a work that celebrates percussion and rhythm and displays his spellbinding artistry—and that of the Oregon Symphony’s stellar percussion section in the solo spotlight. Tchaikovsky’s Fourth Symphony also thrills with the life-affirming sounds of timpani, bass drum, and cymbals and engages you with this passionate work, about which he confessed, “There is not a single bar in this Symphony which I have not truly felt, and which is not an echo of my most intimate spiritual life…”

Drum Tao

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