Asia North

A++ is an independent improv comedy team based in Baltimore and comprised of all AAPI performers. Our improv shows explore cross-cultural traditions, finding a sense of belonging in diverse environments, and dealing with societal expectations. Our scenes are all made up on the spot based on your audience stories and our personal experiences.

B'more Taiko offers both taiko performance and community outreach. Our performing members come from across the DMV, bringing diverse taiko experiences to the ensemble. 

Taiko  literally means "drum" in Japanese, but it also  denotes a specific style of group percussion. Rooted in religious and festival music going back centuries, contemporary taiko ensembles often include elements of other musical traditions, including American jazz. Beginning in the mid-20th century, performing groups in Japan and across North America began developing this dynamic form of group performance. Today there are hundreds of community, professional, youth, and collegiate taiko performance ensembles in many countries around the world.

B'more Taiko's outreach arm seeks to foster community and fun through taiko. Grounded in Japanese and Japanese-American traditions, but now practiced all around the world, taiko offers a unique form of music-making and physical activity that's accessible to all. Previous outreach work has included the Baltimore Rhythm Festival and the Oliver Fall Festival. B'more Taiko is proud to be a current artist-in-residence at Making Space B'more.

Regie Cabico is one of the country's leading innovators and pioneers of The Poetry Slam, having won 3 National Top Prizes and winning The Nuyorican Poets Cafe Grand Slam. He received the NY Innovative Theater Award for his work in the NY Neo-Futurists' production of Too Much Light Makes The Baby Go Blind. Bust magazine ranked him in the 100 Men We Love. The Kenyon Review called him the Lady Gaga of Poetry and was hailed by The Washington Post as the Fairy Godmother of Spoken Word. He has appeared on two seasons of HBO’s Def Poetry Jam, TEDx Talk, NPR's Snap Judgement & The Poet Speaks.

Shauntee Daniels is the Executive Director (CEO) | Baltimore National Heritage Area, a visionary who leads and  executes those programs which promote, preserve, and enhance Baltimore's historic and cultural legacy and natural resources for current and future generations.

Ameena Fareeda is a freelance Illustrator and Designer who currently resides in Silver Spring, Maryland. She graduated from the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) with a BFA in Illustration. She describes her work as colorful and graphic, as she uses a simplified and decorative stylistic approach to her illustrations. She creates works that shed light onto AAPI cultural and social experiences. As an Indian Asian-American woman, Ameena believes it is important to create work that enhances voices of the Asian American community. Creating work that sparks a sense of joy and curiosity through everyday nuances is her ultimate goal in illustrating. 

Hanpan Korean American Cultural Center is a nonprofit, Korean cultural group comprising of students and adults ranging in age from 10 years old to 75 years old. For today’s performance, our group will be performing Samulnori. Samulnori which means the “playing of four instruments” has its roots in Pungmul which is a Korean folk genre comprising of music dance and rituals. Each instrument symbolizes an element of nature: janggu, the hour-glass shaped drum that represents the rain; buk, the barrel drum that represents the clouds; jing, a large gong that represents the wind; and kkwaenggwari, the small, handheld gong that represents thunder. The historical significance of Samulnori is that it was traditionally performed in rice-farming villages in order to bring on and celebrate successful harvests. Samulnori was also performed during times of war or occupation to signify unity of the Korean people. It is also played during celebrations of traditional Korean culture and has now been modernized and even incorporated into modern Kpop music.

Hello Fans is Willa Fan whose music crosses decades as a collage of 70s Fender Rhodes sounds, 80s synth pop, with a central melodic and memorable hook to each song. Her messages include themes of political action, self discovery, and independence. Her husband Keith Kellner partners behind the scenes bringing cohesive basslines, rhythm, and ambiance to the mix. Willa grew up playing classical piano and draws her inspiration from 80s synth sounds, 90s girl power, and 00s electronic pop music inspiring her melodic playfulness in her songs. 

Dylan K. Hill joined the Contemporary Art Department at the Baltimore Museum of Art as the Meyerhoff-Becker Curatorial Fellow in 2024. While at the BMA, she has supported projects including Crosscurrents: Works from the Contemporary Collection 2025, Amy Sherald: American Sublime 2025 and the upcoming Meyerhoff-Becker lobby commission. Dylan also co-curated the group exhibition, Exquisite Relations 2025, at the Rubelle and Norman Schafler Gallery at the Pratt Institute, NY. 

She received her M.A. in the History of Art and Design at Pratt, where she also served as a research assistant, and holds a B.A. in Art History from Portland State University. Her research interests explore the ways in which Native Hawaiian culture, settler colonialism, and tourism manifest in contemporary art and design. 

Phaan Howng is a strategic consultant for Asia North 2026 and a co-leader of the project for preserving Baltimore Koreatown. She is a Taiwanese American artist who creates large scale paintings, site specific installations and performances that center around the Earth defensively brandishing its landscape in a post-human future. She incorporates theatrical and cinematic elements in her work to place the viewer in an idealized or satirical speculative future to encourage reflection on current environmental and ecological conditions fostered by extractive global capitalism. Her research into landscape theory, anthropology, and history grounds these interrogations of Western concepts of nature, the human, and time.

Hiromitsu Hubbard is a Japanese American painter and explorer whose fine art and murals share a story of adventure and companionship to remind people that there is a whole world of friendship, beauty and mystery out there for those who choose to look for it. His work combines a background in design and communications with energetic representational and surrealist painting. Hiromitsu currently lives in his hometown of Baltimore, Maryland, where he returned after travels across the United States, building his career over the past decade. He first left Baltimore to earn a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Ringling College of Art and Design in Sarasota, FL. After graduating, he worked as a graphic designer and fabricator before transitioning to a career as a fine artist and muralist, a setting that allows for fuller artistic expression. In his studio practice he creates paintings using acrylic paint applied with both brush and airbrush on canvas and custom handmade MDF panels. Outside of the studio he creates large scale murals using acrylic latex paint and spray paint. He has had successful gallery exhibitions in Baltimore and has painted murals for a variety of arts festivals, public art programs and private clients in Baltimore and across the east coast.

Zara Kahan is a Borneo-born, Baltimore-based filmmaker, mixed media artist, and art educator. She has written and directed two feature films and a digital series, with work recognized by an Asian TV Award nomination. She is a recipient of the Leslie King Hammond Fellowship and the Eisenstein-Zimmerman Award from the Maryland Institute College of Art. Her recent projects have been supported by the Saul Zaentz Innovation Fund Fellowship and the Ruby Grant for Visual Arts for her narrative feature Come Into My Arms.

Paul Koh is a Korean immigrant and educator who engages in a praxis rooted in unconditional belonging. As an assistant professor at Towson University, his work is informed by the experiences of Asian American PK-12 leaders and its connections to cultivating transformational spaces, developing counternarratives/counterstories, enacting collectivist leadership approaches, and building cross-racial coalitions.

Prior to joining higher education, he served as a history teacher, assistant principal, principal, principal supervisor, and assistant superintendent in the Bay Area and Wake County (NC).

At Towson University, Paul teaches courses focused on leadership, coaching, data-based decision-making, school finance, and school law. He enjoys working with educators to ensure schools are places of purpose, belonging, and success for all students.

Matthew Lee has been working in various roles since 1990. Matthew began their career as President & CEO of FASTech, Inc. in 1990. In 1996, they became President of KoBE Government Contracting Alliance (KoBE). In 2002, they moved to A-Tech Systems, Inc. as Chief Executive Officer. In 2015, they were appointed President of U.S. International Development Center (USIDC) and Board of Directors of Maryland Technology Development Corporation (TEDCO). In 2018, they joined the Maryland Cybersecurity Council as a Council Member. In 2019, they were appointed Member Board of Directors of Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation - Maryland. Currently, they are Chairman of The Koreatown Planning Committee Board, Inc. (KPCB).  Matthew Lee received their High School Diploma from Baltimore Polytechnic Institute in 1984, followed by a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from Virginia Tech in 1988. Matthew then obtained a Master of Science (MS) in Electrical Engineering from The Johns Hopkins University in 1995. Also he is a co-founder and former chair for the Baltimore Changwon Sister City Committee.

Donna R. Omata, a Japanese American Katazomé artist, was born in Washington, D.C. in 1956 and raised in Kensington, Maryland.  From 1974-1977, Donna studied drawing in San Francisco, with Mitsu Yashima, a noted children’s book writer, illustrator, and activist. Donna also took classes at San Francisco State University in Japanese Language, Studio Art, and Dance, with Nontzisi Dolores Cayou. 

From 1977 to 1981, Donna transferred to a small experiential international college called, Friends World College and traveled to and lived in Japan for three years. She was fortunate to study about handmade paper making (washi), in Kurodani Village, in Northern Kyoto Prefecture. Later, in Tokyo, Japan, she was able to study about Katazomé, the Japanese art of printmaking with stencils.  In 1980, Donna earned a B.A. Degree in Japanese Language and Japanese Art, from Friends World College, now known as Long Island University Global. Her B.A. Project and Thesis focused on Studio Art Studies with Serizawa Keisuke, (1895-1984), of Tokyo, Japan.  Serizawa was awarded the Japanese Ministry of Culture’s title of “Living National Treasure of Japan”, as the Master Artist of Katazomé. 

In 2005, Donna earned her M.A. Degree in Historical Studies from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) and participated in the 2002 Project Zero Summer Program at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education.  From 2006 - 2009, Donna served as the Assistant to the Director of the Asian Arts & Culture Center at Towson University. 

Donna’s grandparents immigrated from Japan to the United States starting in 1895. Her parents and their siblings were born and raised in California. Like all other 125,000 Japanese Americans living on the West Coast of the United States, at the time of the outbreak of WWII in the Pacific, they were rounded up during martial law, incarcerated by the U. S. Government, and experienced harsh racial discrimination. 

In response to adversity, Donna’s artwork is inspired by the beauty of the natural world and the history of human migration, ideas, and material culture, from ancient times to the present day. Donna works with natural dyes and pigments on milled paper, handmade papers, and natural fiber textiles. Her works have been shown in group exhibitions in Washington, D.C., Tokyo, and Baltimore. Articles about her work have been published in newspapers and periodicals such as: The Washington Post, The Los Angeles Times, Kyoto Shimbun, Asahi Shimbun, The Kyoto Review, and included in the published book, Ayumi: A Japanese American Anthology, edited by Janice Mirikitani, et al., San Francisco, Japanese American Anthology Committee, 1980.

Nerissa Paglinauan serves as the Program Manager for the Asian Arts & Culture Center (AA&CC) at Towson University and is co-curator of the Asia North Exhibition. A Baltimore native and daughter of Filipino immigrants, she has curated or co-curated 15 group exhibitions since 2012, significantly expanding the center's network of APIMEDA artists across the Greater Baltimore and DMV regions. Her contributions to the local arts community include serving as a juror for the 2025-2026 Hackerman Artist in Residence at the Enoch Pratt Free Library and for the exhibition Interwoven Worlds: Art of APIMEDA Diasporas at the Maryland Federation of Art. Since helping organize Art Filipino: Works by Master Artists (2013)—the AA&CC's first all-Filipino exhibition—she has continued to center APIMEDA stories through projects like the Asia North Exhibition and Kamayan Feast. Nerissa holds B.A. degrees in Music and Child Development from Tufts University and is a vocalist with the Baltimore Choral Arts Society and other local ensembles.

Plant Dad, Baltimore's indie-pop sensation, is an exciting act on the rise, winning over listeners with infectious melodies and an energetic sound. Led by Ralph Bernabe, the band features Jake Fine on drums, Jack Jahries on bass, Matt Hurd on guitar, and Noelle Acaso on keyboard—each bringing their own artistry to Plant Dad’s immersive sound. Drawing inspiration from Daniel Caesar, The Strokes, Voxtrot, Clairo, Vampire Weekend, and The Shins, Plant Dad effortlessly blends Indie & Alternative Rock, R&B, Hip-Hop, Folk Singer-Songwriter, and Pop into a genre-defying sonic experience. Their music is a seamless fusion of dreamy textures, heartfelt lyricism, and innovative production.

Angela Ra is the Communications and Strategic Policy Manager of the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (MIMA). In this role, Angela is responsible for crafting and guiding messaging and municipal policies to promote the well-being and inclusion of immigrants in Baltimore City. Prior to joining MIMA, Angela worked in international human rights, consulting for Seoul-based civil society organizations that promote freedom of press, media, and information in North Korea.

Arpita Rakshit Sabud started learning Odissi 30 years ago. She learned under Guru Smt. Sudha Dutta and Guru Madhavi Mudgal. Currently in Maryland, she runs her own dance institute and teaches Odissi dance to the diaspora.

Hannah Florence Shaw is a queer Baltimore-based artist with Taiwanese and Armenian roots. Recording memories has always been central to how she reflects and makes sense of her experiences. Her recent work grows from years of journaling and scrapbooking, and a love of graphic novels. Through combining these forms, she explores different ways of processing and documenting, using storytelling to connect with others. She also works as the Senior Communications Manager at Wide Angle Youth Media, a nonprofit that supports Baltimore youth in sharing their stories through media arts.

Jacqueline Shin is a National Register Assistant with the Maryland Historical Trust as well as an independent researcher. She is currently researching the history of Rockville's and Gaithersburg's East Asian communities. Her background is in literature, and she spent over ten years as an English professor at Towson University before moving into the space of historic preservation and public history.

Ms. Myung Hwa Shin has been recently elected as President of the Korean Culture & Art of MD (KCAMD). She previously served as Chairperson of KCAMD for three years, ending in 2025. She also serves as Vice President of the Korean Athletic Association of MD. She lived in Baltimore from 1987 to 1989 before returning to Korea. In 1998, she re-immigrated to Baltimore, currently she resides in Howard County. 

She operates six stores at the Northeast Market (2101 E Monument St, Baltimore, MD 21205). Her businesses at the Northeast Market offer a variety of foods, including fried chicken, deli sandwiches, all-day breakfast, a juice bar, a salad bar, and Korean food. The largest operation is Ronnie's Lunch (fried chicken & all-day breakfast), which was acquired in 2009. She has been a dedicated and passionate supporter of the Korean community in Maryland. She also volunteers at her Korean Church in Columbia, MD.

Soul of Persia is an ensemble dedicated to presenting the depth, refinement, and expressive power of Iranian classical, traditional, and regional music. Bringing together master musicians from across the DMV area, the group offers audiences a musical journey through the diverse cultural landscapes of Greater Iran—where ancient melodies, poetic traditions, and regional folk colors blend into a timeless artistic heritage.

The ensemble features:

        • Maziar Zebhideh (Vocal) — A Washington D.C.–area vocalist trained in the classical Persian Radif under master musicians in Tehran, blending literary depth with emotional nuance in the traditional vocal tradition.

        • Ali Jafari (Tar) — An accomplished Tar performer with decades of training under renowned masters. Based in Virginia, he brings an expressive and scholarly approach to Persian classical repertoire, bridging rigorous tradition with contemporary artistry.

        • Ali Ahmad Khostovan (Santur) — A Maryland-based astrophysicist and Santur performer whose extensive training with leading masters and performances at cultural institutions reflect his devotion to preserving and interpreting the classical Radif with clarity and elegance.

        • Amir Manbachi (Tombak) — A Baltimore-based tombak artist with training from some of Iran’s most respected percussion masters. His style blends rhythmic precision, improvisation, and deep engagement with the poetic and spiritual dimensions of Persian music.

        • Miead Nikfarjam (Daf & Percussion) — A Maryland-based Daf performer, instructor, and reliability engineer originally from Shahsavar, Iran. With advanced training under Maestro Masoud Habibi, he brings powerful rhythmic energy to the ensemble while also cultivating the next generation through teaching and community performances.

Together, Soul of Persia curates programs that highlight the rich tapestry of Iranian music—from the refined structures of the classical Radif to the vibrant traditions of folk melodies—creating an immersive experience that connects audiences to the living soul of Persian culture.

Mohammad Rohaizad Suaidi is an adjunct professor at Towson University's Dept. of Theatre Arts where he teaches a course in cultural diversity and contemporary theatre. Born in Singapore, Rohaizad is a longtime resident of Baltimore City and has contributed to its arts scene as a performer and theatre-maker since the late ‘90s. A frequent collaborator with the Asian Arts & Culture Center, Rohaizad has curated and presented intimate interactive events and programs, including staged readings of plays by Queer Asian playwrights at the Asia North Festival.

Sutradhar Dance Company. Founded by Nilimma Devi in 1988, Sutradhar is an acclaimed performing group that sees the elasticity of tradition in its philosophic roots that hinge on questions of identity, peace and social justice. The company includes a core of highly trained Kuchipudi dancers and martial artists and works with collaborators from mediums across the board. Projects start with the seed of an idea and grow through each artist’s embodied traditions to create new responses to the work. The group is innovative while preserving the lineage of this particular Andhra vani in the highest standard of artistic excellence. Hand in hand with the community cornerstone Sutradhar Institute of Dance and Related Arts, Sutradhar Dance Company aims to uplift marginalized voices through a timeless art form and remind its audiences of our common humanity.

Mr. Kim Tae Wan immigrated to Baltimore in 1995. He graduated from Dankook University in Seoul in 1993, majoring in industrial chemistry. He has run a Grocery and Deli store in Baltimore for 30 years. The store name is Liberty Food Market located at 1203-1205 Greenmount Ave., Baltimore, MD 21202. Currently he and his family live in Ellicott City. He serves as the general secretary for two choir groups at Bethel Korean Presbyterian Church and the First Korean Presbyterian Church in Ellicott City.

Kandi Wong (she/they) is a Baltimore native arts administrator known for their commitment to uplifting arts and culture in the DMV area. She currently supports the transformative power of music, education, and community at the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, as the Major Gift Officer at the Music Center at Strathmore. They previously worked in development at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, supporting events such as the Emmy Award-winning variety special Conan O'Brien: The Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. She also co-founded the institution's first AAPI Employee Resource Group, the Golden Collective, to support professional development, foster allyship in the workplace, and highlight APIMEDA programming and local artists. She received her M.A. in Arts Administration from Florida State University and her B.S. in Music from Towson University. As a musician, they actively perform on clarinet with the Towson Wind Symphony and serve on their Executive Board. Kandi's approach to their work focuses on fostering sustainable ecosystems for artists and ensuring cultural institutions engage the community by remaining accessible and inclusive. 

Phyllis Zhu (she/her) is a Chinese-American fiber artist and licensed clinical social worker based in Baltimore, MD. Her therapy practice focuses on reclaiming cultural identities, healing intergenerational trauma and finding joy and nourishment in APIMEDA community. As a self-taught artist, Phyllis also uses her art process to explore the immigrant experience of navigating liminal spaces and reconnecting with ancestral power in a playful way. Phyllis works primarily with fiber arts using knitting, weaving, and embroidery techniques to create textiles and images that draw on elements of nature and her Asian heritage.