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Oscar
Rios Pohirieth
(and a young protege after
a concert) |
The
founder and director of Kusi Taki, Oscar, is
originally from Veracruz state in southern Mexico,
where he grew up playing Andean music after being
exposed to it an early age from both exiled Chilean
groups and Mexican folk music ensembles. He was
inspired to bring this music to Nebraskans after
playing with a group of traveling Ecuadorian musicians
who had come to play at the state fair.
He founded
the first Nebraska-based Andean folk music ensemble
initially with the support of UNL staff and other
community members in 1993.
In
addition to his vocal contributions, Oscar's extensive
knowledge of Andean instruments ranges from the quena
and quenacho (base quena), to the entire panpipe
family, the charango, and to the many rhythms of the
bombo and chajchas.
His wife,
Erica Birky Rios, handles the bookings for Kusi
Taki. |
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Sussi is
originally from Barcelona-Venezuela, where she worked as
an occupational and massage therapist. She was also an
active vocalist in Cantoria Alberto Grau, a professional
international choir.
She has
lived in Lincoln, Nebraska, since 2002, with her husband
Tom. She works as a medical interpreter, Spanish
teacher, and musician.
In addition
to Kusi Taki's music, she loves singing and playing
music from, South America, Spain, and many other
countries. Her hobbies include dancing (of any type),
billiards, and various crafts.
One might
also call "relationships" her hobby. She has lived in
Lincoln for just a few years and has collected literally
hundreds of friends. She also enjoys singing at some
local Karaoke hotspots!
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Sussire
Hernandez-Ryan |
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David Jacobo |
David is
an original member of Kusi Taki and specializes in
the charango and panpipes.
He
likes the fact the group is informal enough to keep
things fun. His other musical interests extend from
bubblegum pop to punk rock.
He and
his wife Naoko, who is originally from Japan, live
in Lincoln with their new baby. David works at
Duncan Aviation.
In his
spare time he enjoys photography and traveling. |
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Michael is
originally from South Dakota and now lives in Lincoln
where he works in the construction industry. He has
been with Kusi Taki since 1997.
He says
his only previous musical experience was playing in a
junk band in elementary school-a far cry from his
current ability to play all sorts of panpipes, ranging
from the standard size zampońas to the nearly
five-foot toyos, the bombo, the goat-toenail chajchas,
and ceramic ocarinas. He loves playing with Kusi Taki
where he gets to meet interesting people from all over
the world. He likes to hook up with other Andean bands
when they travel to Lincoln and tries to stay in touch
with them when they return home.
His
musical tastes run the gamut from reggae, to
classical, R&B, bluegrass and African traditional. He
enjoys spending time with his children and
grandchildren, playing billiards, and catching
enormous catfish! |
Michael Schwebach |
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Mark
Vanek |
Mark
has been with Kusi Taki almost from the start, and
plays the Bombo and various flutes and panpipes.
He
lives in Lincoln, NE with his wife and family and
works at a local company in their IT department.
When
he's not playing with Kusi Taki, he can be found
relaxing with his family, or practicing with the
group, Hot Rosin, for a monthly Contra Dance. |
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John,
originally from Chicago, IL, rounds out the rhythm
section with the guitar, mandolin and Ecuadorian
bandolin.
He
really loves the various rhythmic challenges presented
by the music of Kusi Taki, as well as the chance
to play music with the rest of the group.
He and his wife,
Pama, write music and perform occasionally as a
duo, as well as sitting in with other groups in
the Lincoln area.
They also are part of the contradance band, Hot
Rosin.
John is
an
attorney with a Nebraska state agency, and spends
his free time making instruments, and working with
stained glass. |
John Baylor |
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Marcelo
Arévalo |
Marcelo,
originally from Valdivia, Chile, is one of Kusi Taki's
newest musicians, playing various percussion instruments,
along with bass and guitar. Influenced by a strong
musical family, Marcelo's early musical journey began at
the school of John Sebastian Bach when he was 8 years old.
At the age of
9 years old, Marcelo formed his first musical group and
since then he has worked with various musicians, bands and
orchestras, leading to an array of musical interests and
influences such as funk, rock, rap, reggae, gospel, jazz,
folk, African, ska, salsa, Latin jazz, bossa nova, rumba,
bolero, son Cubano, and mambo.
Through his
experiences, he has come to realize that music is not
something one simply arrives and performs. Music is the
sacrificial payment of diligent study and practice and
only through such sacrifice can
one become a future artist. |
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Kusi Taki website design by Barb Biffle |
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