Marco Lienhard formed The East Winds Ensemble in 1999 in New York City. The purpose of the group is to present concerts of traditional and modern music performed on Japanese traditional instruments, the shakuhachi and the koto. The members of the group are Ryuko Mizutani, Masayo Ishigure, Barbara Merjan and Marco Lienhard. Performances have taken the group to Japan, Mexico, Europe and around the US. The members have performed in some of the world’s most renowned halls such as Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Boston Symphony Hall, Suntory Hall in Tokyo and Osaka Festival Hall.
Past concerts include, Symphony Space in New York, Salamanca Hall in Gifu Japan, concert in Tokyo, Museum of Art of Gifu, Concert for World Music Institute in New York, U of Maryland, Gettysburg College, Wesleyan College, University of Nuevo Leon, Mexico, University of Missouri, St. Louis. Recording for Nintendo for a new game: “Red Steel”. In 2005, they released a best selling CD. Marco Lienhard has also released a few solos CD. Marcolienhard.com
Marco Lienhard has mastered the shakuhachi under Masters Katsuya Yokoyama and Teruo Furuya. Mastered the Watazumi Dokyoku style, Kinko and modern style. He was a principal member of Ondekoza from 1981-1997 where he learned and mastered the Taiko drum, the fue and folk dances. Lienhard has done numerous recordings with Ondekoza and two critically acclaimed solo shakuhachi recordings. In 1995, Lienhard founded the group Taikoza (a New York based professional Taiko group) with which he has since toured Europe, the US and Mexico.
M. Lienhard regularly performs in Japan as a guest artist. He recently performed in Tokyo to a sold out house with Kodo member Chieko Kojima.
Marco Lienhard has appeared on many TV shows including “Regis and Kathie Lee Show,” the PBS special “A World of Performances,” MTV, NBC's 1998 Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade. Lienhard has recorded music for movies and documentaries and was the featured shakuhachi player in the American premiere of “The Temple of the Golden Pavilion” with the New York City Opera at Lincoln Center. Performed in Miyazaki Japan for Carnegie Hall 's children program.
His shakuhachi, fue and taiko music also appears on the new Nintendo Wii game Red Steel. Lienhard was an invited guest performer at the 2004, 2007 and 2008 International Shakuhachi Festival.
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