ROSEVILLE — Several Placer Buddhist Church members — Amy Hamada, Etsuko Kohagura, Isabel and Bob Meyer, Tsuneko and Roy Matsumoto, Kimiko Aoyama, Susie Storm, Aki Matsuda, Martha Miyamura and Fusae Miyamoto — attended the Harmonicoots’ Fifth Jamboree at the Timberlake Ballroom in Sun City, Roseville on May 12.

The Harmonicoots is a group of about 50 members who get together to have fun playing the harmonica. The group has beginners as well as advanced, and near professional players.

Among them are three Placer Buddhist Church members, Julie Iso, Bob Takemoto, and Rev. Tesshi Aoyama.

The group was accompanied by a violin, bass, keyboard and drums. The program consisted of recognizable show tunes and old standards, songs from different states, and a medley of military songs to recognize those who served in the armed forces.

One memorable moment was the performance of “Sah ein Knab’ ein Roslein stehn” (The Rose). Bob Takemoto, Joe Schuchmann, and Ted Kitada played the harmonica while Rita Bregler and Henk van Vliet sang the song in German, followed by Kim Faust and Ben Hur singing in Korean, and Rev. Aoyama finished by singing the song in Japanese.

Two professionals, Tom Stryker and Winslow Yerxa, were also part of the program. Stryker has performed as a soloist and with various symphonies, harmonica trios and jazz bands.

He continues to perform all over the world, with shows in China, Hawaii, London, and Frankfurt.

Yerxa is a performer, author, and teacher. He plays nearly every type of harmonica as well as arranging, composing and conducting. He regularly performs with the San Francisco Harmonica Quintet and other harmonica ensembles in the Bay Area, as well as teaching at a the Jazzschool in Berkeley.