Thingamajigs Performance Group (TPG)

Thingamajigs Performance Group (TPG) is a sound-based ensemble working co-creatively in a variety of mediums and with a wide array of local and international artists. Formed in 2008, TPG focuses on durational performance, alternate tuning, group and open compositional formats, interdisciplinary and intercultural collaboration, and site-specific work. Their fields of institutional study, performance practice, and instrumentation are directly informed by Japanese noh and gagaku, Korean pansori, sijo and sinawi, formal training in both Western and Eastern art practices, and a commitment to experimental art. Their proximity to issues of intercultural performance is acute. They navigate relationships with traditional artists and idioms as an integrated part of their work.

Current Members :  Dylan Bolles, Keith Evans, Suki O'Kane and Edward Schocker

Collaborators (past and present) : Gelsey Bell, Rae Diamond, Ann Dyer, Sasha Hom, Shinichi Iova-Koga, Eric Kupers, Michael Meyers, Robert Moran, Pauline Oliveros, Stephen Ratcliffe, Zachary James Watkins, Jeffrey Young

Harmonic Drift

The Harmonic Drift project is a fiscally sponsored project of Thingamajigs that is an immersive sensory experience of original musical instruments and shadow puppet theater. Harmonic Drift aligns with our mission of promoting music and other art-making through found objects and alternate tunings. Dan Bales and Katie Harrell, the artists driving the project, have worked with Thingamajigs as part of our educational programming. Our partnership goal is to bring joy to audiences through direct participation with our instrument installation and immersive performances.

Ensemble PHASE

Ensemble PHASE performs traditional, contemporary, and experimental music on Korean instruments. They are passionate in collaborating with living composers and performers from diverse musical backgrounds. In order to expand the interest in writing for Korean instruments, ensemble PHASE has given workshops and lectures for composers and students to better understand Korean music and instruments, in and out of Korea. ensemble PHASE’s projects have been sponsored by the City of Seoul, Seoul Foundation of Arts and Culture, Art Council Korea, National Gugak Center and Studio Paju.

Northern California Gagaku Group

The Northern California Gagaku Group was formed in 2009 under the direction of Rev. Dr. David Masumoto, resident minister of the Berkeley Buddhist Temple and Director of Contemporary Buddhist Studies at Berkeley’s Institute of Buddhist Studies. The group includes former students of master gagaku musician Togi Sensei and former members of Los Angeles’ Kinnara Gagaku, representing the coming together of gagaku musicians who have studied the music both in Japan and here in California. NCGG’s mission is to keep the thousand-year old music of gagku alive via ongoing practice sessions, workshops, and performances of gagaku at public, cultural, and religious events.

The Northern California Gagaku Group is in residence at the Berkeley Buddhist Temple and meets on the First Saturday (11:00am-1:00pm) and Last Wednesday (6:00-7:30pm) of the month. The group is open to people interested in learning traditional Japanese instruments.

Mit Darm : Mit Darm — the electroacoustic duo of Edward Schocker (glass/shō) and Suki O'Kane (electronics), explore discrete sonic ideas and teeter nuanced gestures into noise, in Mit Darm.

'Fraid o' Freyja : The just-intoned, psychedelic alter-ego of TPG

FOF was born of a tuning experiment enacted on a Wurlitzer dubbed "The Schocker/Fokker Tuning"; given life by the "what-would-happen-if" one month rental of a rock rehearsal space. It continues what TPG started, only louder.