Maya Kirkeby-Porras (Class of 2011)
June 3rd, 2021
Maya Kirkeby-Porras Reflects on her Experiences as a Member of PBA's Hyaku Sen Ki Kai Taiko
Class of 2011 alumna Maya Kirkeby-Porras (formerly Maya Kirkeby) recollects that one of the first obstacles she faced performing taiko was to trust her own abilities. “I remember having to come up with my own solo for a few of the songs and it was difficult for me to do because after I heard everyone else’s solos, I had doubts that mine weren’t going to be as good,” she said. But Maya persevered. “At the end of the day, I had amazing friends, family and teachers to help me believe that I had the strength in me the whole time.”
As taiko students of Pacific Buddhist Academy’s elite performance taiko group Hyaku Sen Ki Kai Taiko prepare for tonight’s 15th annual
taiko festival, Maya recalled preparing for a performance can take hours of practice and repetition. But as she explained, the benefits of those hours of dedication make the process worthwhile. “I made a bunch of really fun memories while performing taiko! I will never forget the lifelong friendships that I made while putting in all those hours of practice to perform in front of hundreds of people,” she said.
Patience is decidedly a virtue Maya practices in her current line of work. After graduating from Regis University in Colorado with a bachelor’s degree in fine arts, Maya moved to Arizona, where she works in the Florence Unified School District as a long-term substitute. “Some may say that being a substitute teacher isn't a career, but I don't see it that way. My goal for being a substitute is to best support whoever needs me. If life were a movie, I wouldn't want to be the main character, I'd want to be the supporting actress because I love helping others!” she said. Maya credits her experience at PBA for leading her on the path of helping others. “I believe that PBA molded me as a person. I think a lot about the Eightfold Path and how I make decisions in life using those values,” she said. Maya’s taiko sensei, one of two remaining employees at the school from its opening in 2003, Sensei Jay Toyofuku, reflected on his time with Maya as his student.
“Maya was an awesome student. Whenever I need a photo for PBA Taiko, I still use the photo of Maya I have because to me it depicts perfectly what I want PBA Taiko to be. The look of concentration on her face and the perfect attention to form are clearly expressed in that photo.”
PBA sends warm wishes to Maya and hopes that current performers can also leave high school with virtues developed through their experience of performance and spiritual training through taiko.
