Carolina Alcaraz is assistant soloist in Spain’s Córdoba Orchestra.

She was a member of Spain’s National Youth Orchestra, “Contemporani 
percussió d'Alacant” and percussion group “Mintaka”.

In 2002 was the winner of TIM (International Music Tournament) in France.

She has appeared as soloist in some of the best festivals and concert 
halls, such as Zaragoza Auditorium (Spain), Alcoy culture house (Spain), Tarascon Principal Theatre (France), “Meeting of Contemporary Music” (Córdoba), Elda Cultural week (Spain), ”Musika Nova” (Helsinki), “Klara Festival” (Belgium), “Spanish Music Festival” (Cádiz, Spain), “Cultural 2mil5” (Almeria, Spain), “Encuentro de las artes y las letras de Iberoamérica” (Huelva, Spain), SPCO-ENGINE 408 (Sant Paul,EEUU) and Marimba 2010 (Minnesota, EEUU).

Has performed with Percussion Quartet ESCLATS, University of Minnesota Symphony Orchestra, Córdoba Orchestra, Finlandia UNKO Orchestra, Murcia Symphonic Orchestra, Sant Pauls Chamber Orchestra and Elche Orchestra.

Under conductors such as Manuel Hernández Silva, Carlos 
Riazuelo, Jani Telaranta, Jose Miguel Rodilla, Leonardo Martínez and 
Giuseppe Lanceta and Mark Rusell Smith.

She teaches in JONDE (Spain’s National Youth Orchestra), OJA (Young Andalusian Orchestra), and gives advanced courses in Azuaga (Spain), “Percufest” in Camporrobles (Spain) and several Spanish Conservatories.

Renowned composers Leo Brouwer, Igmar Alderete Acosta and Juan de Dios García 
Aguilera have dedicated and written various works for her.

She has recorded the first “Concerto for Marimba and Orchestra” by Igmar Alderete Acosta with the Córdoba Orchestra under Manuel Hernández Silva and “Edicions Albert Moraleda , S.L.”

Public and critics have emphasized her talent, virtuosity, strong 
rhythmic vigour, complete control of the percussion instruments and great 
sensitivity.

Email Carolina Pérez Alcaraz
http://carolinalcaraz-percussion.com

Artist

Daniel Alameda is a native of Las Vegas, Nevada. Having performed in everything from elementary school assemblies, college orchestras and international competitions to restaurants, clubs, weddings and movie premiers, he is a very well rounded musician and percussionist. Recently, Daniel was awarded as the Honorable Mention at the Southern California Marimba Competition on May 2nd, 2009. Daniel has been under the tutaladge of musicians such as Nebojsa Zivkovic, Momoko Kamiya, Bogdan Bacanu and Peter Sadlo at their respective seminars and festivals. Daniel is currently studying percussion with Dr. Timothy Jones as well as jazz and composition with Professor Tom Warrington at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Daniel currently teaches high school front ensembles and performs in various jazz groups throughout the Las Vegas valley.

"Encore Mallets allow me to shape and sculpt the sound that I am getting out of my ensembles. As the never-ending quest for the perfect sound continues, Encore Mallets will surely be by my side."

Email Daniel Alameda

Artist;
Director, LatinVibes
Professor and Director,
Howard Payne University Percussion Ensemble, Bronwood, TX

Juan Alamo - (Marimbist, Vibraphonist, Percussionist, Composer and Educator) Born and raised in Cidra, Puerto Rico. Juan took his first steps towards playing percussion at the age of 6 and began his passion for Marimba at the age of 16. He started his performance experiences playing for Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra, San Juan Pops Orchestra and Marimba duo Dos by Two. He was honored with a Magna Cum Laude from the Music Conservatory of Puerto Rico in 2001. In the same year he was awarded by the Government of Puerto Rico a scholarship to pursuit his Master Degree in the University of North Texas. Juan decided to further his musical skills studies at the University of North Texas where he will obtain his Doctorate in Music Performance with a minor in Jazz and be the first Puerto Rican to obtain a Doctorate Degree in Percussion in the whole caribbean. Currently Juan is a Professor and the Director of the Percussion Emsemble at the Howard Payne University in Bronwood, Texas. Juan is also the Director and vibes player of his own group LatinVibes, www.sonicbids.com/LatinVibes With this group Mr. Alamo is being featured in Latin Jazz Festivals, concerts, community events and TV programs in the DFW area. As a Marimba soloist Juan has presented recitals different areas of United States and Puerto Rico. Also he has performed and shared the stage with renowed artist such as Keiko Abe, Willian Cahn, Ney Rosauro, Orlando Cotto, Steve Shick, Tito Puente, Arturo Sandoval, and famous conductors such as Sergiu Comissiona and Krzyszt Penderecki. Juan is being featured in the following recordings;
Marimbics (Marimba Solo) Clasical - Juan Alamo 2007
The World Is Changing (World Music) Latin Percussion - Snarky Puppy 2007
In Motion (Latin Jazz) Vibes and Percussion - LatinVibes 2007
Traditional Charanga Update ( Charanga Sanaritana) Latin 2006
Wild Hands (Dos By Two) Marimba duo 2005
UNT Winds Symphony (Classical) 2003
Nuevas Raices - P.R Folk Music Group 1999
Jazz in la Libre (Latin Jazz Ensemble) 1998

www.sonicbids.com/JuanAlamo
www.sonicbids.com/LatinVibes

It is one of the most important groups of chamber music in Costa Rica. Since its founding in 1993 by its current director, Maestro Fernández Bismarck aimed to develop a language of composition and performance not before explored by any other similar assembly in the great Latin American area.

The ensemble has performed in the most prestigious halls in the country among which include its participation in the Centennial Celebration of the National Theatre, Coliseum up Costa Rican culture. At the international level in the Palacio de Linares in Madrid Spain (1993), and the festival "We are Latin Americans" in Santiago de Chile (1997), where he received excellent reviews. For this reason it was necessary to take the group outside of the festival, the prestigious Teatro de la Universidad de Chile.

The assembly currently has five members, all highly experienced professionals and knowledge in music, within which there are four members of the National Symphony Orchestra of Costa Rica. Given the versatility of its members within their repertoire features classical works for percussion, Latin American music, jazz and Costa Rica.

Among its achievements is the implementation of the Compact Disc “Marimbando” made entirely of Costa Rican composers, who, in 2001 received by the Composers Association of Costa Rica, National Prize of Music Alternative and likewise Award for Best Production of the year.

In March 2002, the Ensemble performed a concert in the city of Amsterdam, Holland in the celebration of the 150th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Costa Rica and the Netherlands. In addition, between 24 May and 7 June of the same year he represented Costa Rica in the "SEOUL DRUM FESTIVAL" held in Korea, the official FIFA event on the occasion of the completion of World Cup Korea-Japan 2002 . Also, in September 2005 he performed as soloist in the Tour that the National Symphony Orchestra conducted by Japan, where he played the work Marimba Spiritual Japanese composer Minoru Miki. He recently participated as the only international guest in the Festival "Classical Bogotá increasingly" held in the Colombian capital 12 to October 19, 2006.

Since June 2008 he works as the resident of the Universidad Estatal a Distancia de Costa Rica. In 2009 organized the First International Festival of Percussion Ensembles in Costa Rica and in April 2010 participated in the First International Marimba Festival in the city of Minneapolis, Mn. U. S.

The Ensemble has recently been awarded the "National Music Award" 2009, as best chamber music group in the country. This prize is awarded by the Ministry of Culture of Costa Rica.

Members:

Bismarck Fernández Vásquez ( Music Director)
William Ramos Calvo
Alejandro Molina Salas
Ricardo Hernández Velásquez
Marco Ortiz Monestel

John M. Floyd
Principal Timpanist:
New Hampshire Music Festival Orchestra
Roanoke Symphony Orchestra
Opera Roanoke

Ricardo Gallardo
Percussionist
Tambuco Percussion Ensemble, Artistic Director

Email Ricardo Gallardo

Ingrid Gordon
Percussionist
Percussia, Artistic Director and Percussion
Marimba Nueva York

Chieh Huang
Marimba

Born in 1983 in Taipei, Taiwan, Chieh Huang began playing the piano at age four, keyboard percussion at age eight and percussion at age seventeen. During her elementary school, Chieh recorded many children songs in numerous albums. She was also a hostess on a children’s TV show called “ The Cultural Train” and she recorded many theme songs for children’s TV shows.

Chieh Huang is an active musician whose recording “Angel’s star” was nominated as best pop/religious music album from Taiwan Golden Melody Award in 2005. During her school years, she placed first in a singing competition among Asians in Minneapolis and also won first place in the 2003 and 2004 Angel Star Singing Competitions in Taipei, Taiwan.

In 2004, Chieh Huang promoted the album “Angel star” with an acapalla group based in San Francisco. They were featured on radio: Kiss Fm Taiwan, Waves radio; MTV Chinese, CTV and TVBS television in Taiwan, as well as in several music magazines. Chieh Huang appeared as a guest singer during this concert tour. Chieh officially released the album, “Angel Star” in 2005. During the promotion, she toured around Taiwan and appeared on two local radio stations, and presented several concerts with outstanding pop artists.

Chieh Huang graduated from University of Minnesota in Minneapolis with an Economic degree and Music minor in 2006. She has received scholarship to study music with The Boston Conservatory and she is pursuing a Master of Music degree at The Boston Conservatory majoring in Marimba, under the direction of Nancy Zeltsman. Her performances in percussion and marimba include “The mouse is coming” for Percussion with Choir at National Taiwan Concert Hall, and as marimba soloist in “Violin Concerto in A minor” by Vivaldi at Lloyd Ultan Recital Hall. She also plays with Guatemalan Marimba Ensemble under the coaching of Ricardo Monzon. In 2007, Chieh performed “Woodcuts” with Ms. Zeltsman at the Boston Conservatory. Additionally, She was a finalist at the 2008 PAS Italy Marimba Competition and 2009 Southern California Marimba Competition. Since then, she was a top 4 finalist in the First Taiwan Marimba Competition 2009 and won third prize in the PAS Italy International Marimba Competition 2009.

Ms. Huang is currently under an entertainment management company in Taiwan and is working on transcribing Chinese and Taiwanese folk songs, crossover music ranging from classical, film music to TV-series music for marimba and various instruments. In addition to that, she studied percussion and marimba with Shih-San Wu, Director of the world-known Ju percussion Group in Taipei and Fernando Meza, Prof. from University of Minnesota.

“Encore mallets give me the versatility to produce my dream sound…”

Email Chieh Huang

Hiromi Kamiya
Performer
Grand Prize winner of the Southern California Marimba Competition Collegiate Division 2009

A native of Nagoya Japan, Hiromi Kamiya began her musical studies at the age of three on piano. Progressing from the piano to marimba when she was 16 years old, Hiromi went on to earn a Bachelor’s degree in Marimba Performance from the Aichi Prefectural University of Fine Arts and Music where she studied with professional marimbist Momoko Kamiya.

Hiromi has been reviewed as the “highlight of the evening” and has given “mesmerizing performances” (Jeff Sass) for several concerts in both the United States and abroad. She recently received first prize at the SCPEF International Marimba Competition in 2009 and also placed first at the 2003 KOBE International Music Competition. Other awards have included: 2nd prize at the Classical Marimba League Marimba Artist Competition (2009), 5th prize at the Japan Wind and Percussion Competition (2008), 3rd prize at the Japan International League of Artists Competition (2006), Superior award at “The Chinese Wall” International League of Artists Competition (2006) and 3rd prize at the Japan Classical Music Competition (2002).

Hiromi Kamiya currently studies with Mark Ford, Christopher Deane and Robert Schietroma while pursuing a Graduate Artist Certificate from the University of North Texas. She will perform in a showcase concert as a member of the UNT Classical Percussion Ensemble at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention in 2009. She has been invited as a guest artist to the National Conference on Percussion Pedagogy (2009) held in Norman, Oklahoma and will be invited as a guest artist to present a recital at the 2010 SCPEF International Marimba Competition held in Orange, California.

“Encore mallets allow me to distinguish harmony from melody which is vital when expressing the music at varying dynamic levels. The mallets sing on soft melodic parts and have the extra bite for the loud and rhythmical sections.”

Email Hiromi Kamiya

Setsuko Kutsuno
Marimba

Born in 1984 in Osaka, Japan, Setsuko Kutsuno began studying the piano at the age of three with her mother, and the marimba and percussion at the age of thirteen. In 2007, she earned her bachelor’s degree from Kyoto City University of Arts, Japan. She graduated with top honors, receiving the Music Division Award and the Kyoto Musical Association Award. Also she has received scholarships to study music with The Boston Conservatory and Rohm Music Foundation. Since the fall of 2007, she has pursued a Master of Music degree at The Boston Conservatory majoring in marimba, under the guidance of Nancy Zeltsman.

Kutsuno was the 2007 winner of the Competition for New Graduate Percussionists in west Japan and went on to receive First Prize in the National Competition. She was one of 14 semi-finalists in 2008 Japan Winds & Percussion Competition in which 160 percussionists participated. Kutsuno was a finalist at the 2009 The National Young Artist Competition and　2009 Southern California Marimba Competition. Also she was a semi-finalist in 2009 Luxembourg International Percussion Duo Competition with her partner, WeiChen Lin.

As a senior in her former university in Japan, she won the concerto competition held in her school and performed "Concerto for Marimba, Vibraphone and orchestra" by Darius Milhaud. Immediately after she enrolled at the Boston Conservatory, Ms. Zeltsman recommended her to perform as a soloist in the Percussion Ensemble Concert held at The Boston Conservatory in the winter of 2007. She had her first solo recital in March 2008 at the Boston Conservatory. In the same year, she also had her first public solo recital in Kyoto, Japan in August under the management of the Aoyama Music Memorial Hall. Kutsuno performed with Nancy Zeltsman and Jack Van Geem in Ms. Zeltsman’s recital held at the 2008 Zeltsman Marimba Festival.

While Kutsuno performed in over 200 concerts during her college career, she occasionally joined professional orchestras in Japan including the Osaka Symphoniker Orchestra, Izumi Symphonietta Orchestra, and Kyoto Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra. In addition, she organized many concerts held for kindergarten and elementary schools. She also worked as a percussion coach with some brass band programs.

Her former teachers include Tsuyoshi Yamamoto, Mutsuko Taneya, and Kunihiko Komori.

"Encore Mallets naturally become a part of my arms when I hold them. They always make me sound my best."

Email Setsuko Kutsuno

Born in England on 5th April, 1985, Sabrina Ma's musical pursuits took shape as early as when she was 4. Learning to play the piano was not enough for her; she took up percussion when she was 5 and the violin when she was 6. But it has always been percussion that captured her imagination, and so after having studied with Sophia Woo at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts for over 10 years she entered the University of Michigan, USA to further her education in percussion under Prof. Michael Udow. She obtained her Bachelor of Music degree with Highest Honours in 2007.

Since graduation, Sabrina Ma relocated to Germany and has since achieved much success at international percussion competitions as well as appeared in many important music festivals and academies. She has achieved such awards as the Special Talent Award at the World Marimba Competition, Belgium (2007), the Pustjens Prize at the Universal Marimba Competition, Germany (2008), and the Third Prize at the 4ème Concours International de Vibraphone Claude Giot, France (2008). In 2009, she captured First Prize at the International Performers' Competition for Marimba in Brno, Czech Republic. In 2010, she won First Prize of the Classical Marimba League Artist Competition.

Sabrina Ma participates regularly in international festivals such as the International Ensemble Modern Academy in Tirol, Austria (2009), Marimba 2010 International Festival and Conference in Minneapolis, USA, Jugend komponiert Workshop (workshop for young composers, 2010) in Brandenburg, Germany, and the "crescendo" music festival in Berlin, Germany (2010.)

Sabrina Ma's vast musical interests lie not only in classical music, but also in jazz and pop. Her lessons with jazz vibes virtuoso David Friedman and the eminent Franz Bauer allow her to gain insight into Berlin's jazz scene, and her stint with the ensemble "Musik mit Herrn Karger" allows her to experiment with improvised music and Latin-influenced songs.

More than anything, Sabrina Ma is passionate, open-minded and curious; so is her approach to music. Whether she is playing the marimba, the snare drum or the vibraphone, she consistently aims for a sound that is emotional, deep and, above all, honest and true to her nature.

"The sound Encore Mallets produce is like an evening song--calm, peaceful, full of yearning. It's something you don't always get with other mallets."

Email Sabrina Ma

Gillian Maitland
Composer,
Performer

Email Gillian Maitland

Gillian began studying percussion at the age of twelve. She moved to St Mary's Music School in Edinburgh to concentrate her high school education towards music at the age of 16, which is where she found her true love of marimba.While at St Mary's, she had the opportunity to study many different aspects of music including classical, jazz and contemporary styles.

During her education, Gillian attended many exclusive courses such as the Juilliard Summer Percussion Seminar in New York City, the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland and the Edinburgh Youth Orchestra. Past performances include a solo recital to the G8 Wives during the G8 summit of 2005 in Glamis Castle. Following this performance, she was made Youth Ambassador of Angus.

In 2005, Gillian went on to study percussion at University of Miami after being awarded an £80,000 grant from Donald Dewar Arts Awards towards her tuition. However, in Gillian’s 3rd year of study, she was in an accident which resulted in her left leg being paralysed below the knee. Gillian had to take time out to learn to walk properly again and decided to stay in the UK and start up her career as a marimba soloist and composer.

Gillian now performs and gives clinics and master-classes in the UK and abroad. One recent performance of note was to Prince Charles at PSYBT's twentieth anniversary event in Edinburgh.

One of Gillian’s specialities is the six mallet technique. Over the last year, she has been looking at the different techniques currently used, and is working on developing them in order to make the mallets more independent and therefor more accessible to tuned percussionists.

Gillian is also an avid composer, concentrating on marimba and percussion. Gillian’s works are published by Southern Percussion and are sold worldwide. Following a master class on composition for percussion she gave at the National University of Ireland with a fellow composer, four new works for solo marimba have been written, by students and professionals who attended the seminar.

www.gillianmaitland.co.uk

"Since discovering encore mallets, they are all I use. They provide the warmth and tone that brings out the natural and beautiful sound of the marimba, giving me the freedom to concentrate on the music."

Jason Markzon
Principal Percussionist,
Fort Wayne Philharmonic

Email Jason Markzon

"The wide selection of mallets that Encore offers makes it possible for me to produce the sound that I am listening for at any given moment when performing in the orchestra."

Daniel B. Meador
Percussionist
Educator

Click here to visit his website. Email Daniel Meador

Christopher T. McLaurin
Principal Percussionist,
Kansas City Symphony

Christopher T. McLaurin is Principal Percussionist of the Kansas City Symphony. Before being appointed to this position, he was a member of the percussion section of The New World Symphony. He has also been a member of the Oklahoma City Philharmonic and Principal Percussionist of the Napa Valley Symphony.

Mr. McLaurin has performed with the Los Angeles Philharmonic at Walt Disney Hall and the Hollywood Bowl, as well as with the Honolulu and San Diego Symphonies, among others. He has spent summers as a fellow at the Tanglewood Music Center, National Repertory Orchestra, Round Top Festival, and the Scheshwig-Holstein Musik Festival, with whom he toured Japan and Germany with Christoph Eschenbach.

As a soloist, Mr. McLaurin has performed concertos with the National Repertory Orchestra, Ohlone Symphony and the San Jose State Symphony, where he won the concerto competition. He is an experienced chamber musician, having performed with The New Juilliard Ensemble, FOCUS! Festival of New Music, Lincoln Theater at Miami Beach, Tanglewood Festival of Contemporary Music, SHMF's Chamber Concerts at Salzau Castle, and San Francisco's Old First Concert series.

He is a graduate of The Juilliard School and also attended Cleveland State University. His major teachers include Tom Freer, James Babor, Greg Zuber, David Herbert, Trey Wyatt, and Anthony J. Cirone. He is a Zildjian Orchestral Artist and an endorser of Encore Mallets and Promark Sticks. He was also on the faculty at Oklahoma State University.

Javier Nandayapa
Percussionist

Email Javier Nandayapa
http//:www.javiernandayapa.com

Javier Nandayapa started his musical career in 1989 with the famous Marimba Nandayapa ensemble. As a soloist, he started his activities in 1995, since then, he had performed at a large number of Festivals, universities and forums in Mexico, United States, Spain, France, Lebanon, Central and South America. Between 2006 and 2008, he has realized around fifty concerts and clinics in Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, Peru, Chile and Uruguay.

He has appeared as a marimba soloist of the following orchestras: Asuncion city Symphony Orchestra, (Paraguay); San Martin Symphony Orchestra, National Police Symphonic Band, Patagonia´s Foundation Chamber Orchestra and Instrumentalia Chamber Orchestra of Rosario, (Argentina); National Symphony Orchestra, Queretaro Symphony Orchestra, Aguascalientes Symphony Orchestra, IPN Symphony Orchestra and Fine Arts Chamber Orchestra (Mexico).

Javier is director and founder of diverse instrumental ensembles, like: "Javier Nandayapa Trio" (Marimba, Piano & Percussion), “Trio Zur” (Marimba, Accordion & Percussion) & "Javier Nandayapa Fussion Three" (Marimba, Electric Bass & Percussion).

"Javier Nandayapa Trio" have performed in several international festivals in Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, United Sates, Germany, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and The United Arab Emirates. In 2006 they performed at The International Cervantine Festival in Guanajuato, Mexico. “Trio Zur” have performed in several venues in Mexico, Guatemala & United Sates.

In 1999 he published, with the percussionist Israel Moreno, “Método didáctico para marimba mexicana” ("Didactic method for Mexican marimba"), the first work of its kind in Mexico.

As a soloist he has recorded eight CD’s "JAVIER NANDAYAPA TRIO III" (2002); "PIAZZOLLA" (2003); "RETRATOS SONOROS" (Sound Portraits) (2004); "TRIO ZUR/ Firedance" (2006); "LA ESPALDA DEL PANGOLIN" (The Pangolin Back’s) Suite for solo marimba (2006); “CHIAPARIMBA” & GREEN RIVER” Mexican contemporary marimba Vol I & II (2008); “RETROSPECTIVE” (2009), Anthology celebrating 20th Anniversary Carrer.

Norbert Pflanzer
Percussionist

Click here to visit his website. Email Norbert Pflanzer

William Ramos
Percussionist

Graduated from the National Institute of Music in Costa Rica in 1997, where he studied with Mr. Bismarck Fernández V. She also studied at the University of Costa Rica with MM.Fernando Meza Sierra. In 1993 he won the first competition "Gold Medal of the National Institute of Music.

He has participated in various groupings of Symphony Orchestras, Symphonic Bands and Chamber Groups.

In 1991 he attended the Boston University Tanglewood Institute in Massachucets, USA where he joined the Young Artists Orchestra, also, in 1995 attended the Sewanne Summer Music Center in Tennessee, USA where he studied with Mr. Frank Shaffer. At the Festival she performed as soloist the Concertino for Marimba and Orchestra by Paul Creston Op21 together with the Sewanee Festival Orchestra. That same year he worked as a professor of percussion at the Youth Camp X of the National Association Concert in Panama City.

He has participated in master classes with artists such as Keiko Abe, Frank Epstein, Arthur Press, Stuart Marrs, Nebosja Zivkovic, among others.

Founding member of Costa Rica Percussion Ensemble, National Music Prize 2009, which was performed in Spain, Panama, Netherlands, Chile, Korea, Colombia and recently in the First International Marimba Festival in Minnesota, U.S.

In December 2002, he joined the percussion group "Clave" in the city of Minneapolis, USA.

As Marimba player of Folk Groups has participated in festivals in India, Nepal, France and Peru.

As a soloist he has participated in concerts with the National Symphony Orchestra and various groups in Costa Rica. In 2005 she performed as soloist for the tour to the National Symphony Orchestra conducted by Japan, performing the Work "Marimba Spiritual" the Japanese composer Minoru Miki along with the Costa Rica Percussion Ensemble.

In June 2006, Mr. Ramos represented Costa Rica in the World Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted in Paris, France.

Timpanist recently served as the orchestra that accompanied the International tenor Placido Domingo in a concert in Costa Rica.

Percussionist since 1994 of the National Symphony Orchestra of Costa Rica, with that group has performed on stages in Spain, Panama, Guatemala, United States, Germany, Austria and Japan. Also currently works as a professor of percussion at the Conservatorio de Castella and as a member of Costa Rica Percussion Ensemble, the resident of the UNED.

Email William Ramos

Kae Reed
Marimba, Percussion
Clinician, Performer

Email Kae Reed
Visit Kae Reed's 'website

Oscar Salazar
Percussionist

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Naoki Sakajami
Percussionist

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Alison Shaw
Percussionist
Contact Alison Shaw.
Visit her website.

Alison Shaw has emerged as a celebrated performing percussionist, master teacher and clinician. She has embraced chamber music, orchestral performance and solo artistry, and has distinguished herself as an award-winning soloist and an acclaimed interpreter of new music. She has premiered a combination of over 25 solo and chamber works throughout the United States and Europe, and her solo CD Signs of Intelligent Life is is newly released on the Eroica Classics label. An advocate of contemporary chamber music, she is executive Director and Co-Founder of Quorum Chamber Arts Collective, a mixed-instrumentation quintet devoted exclusively to commissioning, recording and performing new works. Shaw also tours extensively with the percussion/tuba duo, Balance, a collaboration that has produced several commissions for this unique combination in addition to transcriptions of popular and folk music. She has also served as principal percussionist or timpanist with many American orchestras, and currently serves as principal timpanist with the Oshkosh Symphony Orchestra and tours and records as principal timpanist with the Brass Band of Battle Creek. Her recordings can be heard on the Eroica Classics, Dorian, Albany, Equilibrium, Mark, BBBC and FIM labels. Currently on the music faculty of The University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, she has served on the music faculties of Michigan State University, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Eastern New Mexico University, The Interlochen Center for the Arts and Musikverein und Festival in Estenfeld, Germany. She is the Chairperson of the Percussive Arts Society (PAS) College Pedagogy Committee, and also serves on the Percussive Arts Society Board of Directors.

John Shaw
Principal Percussion,
The Florida Orchestra
Percussion Instructor,
St. Petersburg College
B.M. Florida State University
M.M. Temple University

John Shaw is the Principal Percussionist with the Florida Orchestra, a position he has held since 1996. He had previously served as a section percussionist with the Florida Orchestra since 1992, and as an extra with many others, including the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Pittsburgh Symphony, and Naples Philharmonic.

A native of Milton (FL), Shaw earned a Bachelor of Music degree from Florida State University, where he studied with Gary Werdesheim, and a Master of Music degree from Temple University as a student of Alan Abel. He received additional training at the Aspen Music Festival and Grand Tetons Orchestral Seminar.

In addition to his duties with the Florida Orchestra, Shaw is the head of the percussion studio at St. Petersburg College, where he teaches lessons, percussion ensemble, and steel drum band. He was also recently appointed to the faculty of the Eastern Music Festival in Greensboro, NC.

In March of 2000, Shaw made his first appearance as a soloist with the Florida Orchestra, performing the Concerto for Percussion by Joseph Schwantner. His seven-member steel drum band, the Tampa Bay Steel Orchestra, was featured with the Florida Orchestra in March 2005 in a program entitled “Music of the Islands” as part of the orchestra’s Pops series. The steel drum band has also recently released its first cd. In November of 2005, Shaw was once again featured as one of four soloists in Bartok’s Concerto for Two Pianos and Percussion. In December of 2008, he will perform James MacMillan’s percussion concerto, Veni, veni Emmanuel as part of the Florida Orchestra’s Masterworks series.

Shaw lives in St. Petersburg with his wife, Florida Orchestra principal harpist Anna Kate Mackle, and their three children - Avery, Audrey, and Madeline.

Contact John Shaw.

Lev Slepner
Marimbist,
Composer,
Bandleader,
Marimba Plus

Lev was born in Moscow in 1976. He has started to learn music at the age of 4 years old. When he was 6, after a series of highly competetive examinations he was accepted to the Gnessin Special Musical School, in the class of percussion instruments. In 1991 he finished the School and entered the State School of Wind and Percussion Instruments (GUDI). He has graduated that school with the highest grades possible, receiving the so-called "red diploma". In 1994 he was accepted to the Russian Gnesins' Academy of Music and he selected marimba as his major. He graduated from the Academy in 2000, again with a "red diploma." He continued at the Academy for postgraduate study.

In 1996-98 he worked in the State Orchestra of Russian National Music Instruments. In 1998-2000 he worked in the Moscow TV-6 Symphony Orchestra. Since 2002, Lev has been working with Arkady Shilkloper in the "Wood Quartet" project.

In 1999 Lev Slepner created "Marimba Plus," the first Russian band with marimba as the lead instrument. Lev is the bandleader of Marimba Plus as well as the composer of their original music. Lev calls their music "art-fusion," for it is a combination of jazz, ethno, fusion, and modern music. Their combination of energy and professionalism, jazz playfulness and classical music conservatism, drive and meditation, and virtuosity and thoughtfulness, has given Marimba Plus an exceptionally successful music career.

Lev created music for following movies: "White Master" ("Quadro" media-group), "Eskimo" (animated), and, "A Beetle, A Boat, An Apricot" (animated). He also works creates music for TV programs and advertisements.

Awards

The laureate of the "Triumf" Russian National Prize as a composer and the best jazz musician of 2002.

Albums

Marimba Plus has released 4 albums composed by Lev Slepner. The self-titled "Marimba Plus" album was released in 2001. "The Charmed World" album, which was recorded together with A. Shilkloper, was presented the Chaikovsky Hall in February 2004. The third solo album, "Zebrano," was presented in the Moscow International House of Music in April 2005. Their newest album, "Celestial Elephant," was presented in March 2007 in the same hall.

Marimba Plus

Marimba Plus: an instrumental project group that combines jazz, ethnic, and contemporary chamber music into a stylized musical cocktail able to satisfy the taste of any music connoisseur. These musicians reinterpret ethnic, classical, and contemporary music traditions with jazz improvisation.

Instrumentation: marimba + flute + clarinet, basset horn + alto and soprano sax + contrabass, bass-guitar + percussion + drums + vocals

The Marimba plus program is based on the works of bandleader Lev Slepner, whose composing talent was awarded with a Russian National "Triumph" Prize.

The members of Marimba Plus are young professional musicians who have graduated from the Russian Gnessin Academy of Music and Moscow P.I.Tchaikovsky Conservatory, and have won prizes at international competitions and festivals.

In 2000, Marimba Plus became the laureate of the Moscow competition, "Rockpower 2000," having won Second Prize. Soon after, the group took place in a folk marathon in Petrozavodsk at a traditional spring jazz festival, "Bohema-Jazz."

In 2001, their first album was released and the group took part in the annual Moscow festival, "Jazz in the Hermitage Garden." The same summer they were invited to appear on the television program of D. Dibrov, "Anthropology."

In 2003, together with the French violinist Didie Lockwood, the musicians went on tour through Russian cities, including Perm, Tumen, Samara, Nijni Novgorod. The tour was organized by the famous Russian pianist Daniil Kramer. That same year bandleader Lev Slepner became the "Triumph" national prize winner as the best composer and jazz performer.

In 2004, the group has taken part in a number of the jazz festivals in Suzdal, Obninsk, Tomsk, as well as in such prestigious festivals as the "All the Stars of Jazz" (curated by Anatoly Croll) and "Jazz in Archangelskoe Mansion." Marimba Plus has become a participant in the Second International Jazz Festival in Petropavlovskoe (St. Petersburg), where it performed with Mike Manieri and Miles Griffith. In the Summer, the group performed at the theatre awards ceremony "The Crystal Turandoth." Another important event for the group was their participation in the jazz festival of Montabane (France), with Monty Alexander and Patricia Kaas. The group recently took part in the "Classics and Jazz" concert series, organized by Daniel Kramer in the Svetlanov Hall of the Moscow International Performance Arts Center.

Since 2005 the group maintains a broad range of concert activity, takes part in numerous of festivals in Russia and abroad, and gives performs in clubs as well as academic concert halls (including the Thaikovsky Hall, The Hall of Central Artist's House, and The Moscow International Performance Arts Center.) The group often cooperates with leading jazz musicians.

Marimba Plus has often appeared in television programs on leading Russian channels as well as on radio.

Marimba Plus Myspace page (English)
Marimba Plus website (Russian
Lev Slepner's website (Russian)

Douglas Wolf
Utah Symphony Orchestra
University of Utah
Salt Lake City, UT
Contact Douglas Wolf.

Douglas Wolf is one of the nation's leading percussion artists. Based in Salt Lake City, Mr. Wolf performs with the Utah Symphony Orchestra, Ballet West Orchestra, Utah Opera Company, and Mormon Tabernacle Choir. He has played percussion for Ray Charles, Kenny G, Mel Tormé, Doc Severinsen, Trisha Yearwood, the Gatlin Brothers, Moody Blues, and many others. Mr. Wolf has recorded music for more than 50 motion pictures and for every major television network. He has served 31 years as a university music professor and is head of the percussion area at the University of Utah School of Music.

Yuko Yoshikawa
Marimbist
Click here to visit her website. Contact Yuko Yoshikawa.

Le Yu
Marimbist
Contact Le Yu.

Le Yu was born in 1988, in ShaanXi Province, China. He started percussion training at the age of 14 under Mr. Yanguang Liu. Aged 15, he entered Xi’an Conservatory of Music High School. In September 2003, Le joined the Xi’an Conservatory of Music Orchestras becoming principal percussionist in the following year. He participated in the Third Beijing International Percussion Festival and Masterclass in 2004.

In August 2005, he was invited by the Shaanxi Swan Symphony Orchestra as a principal percussionist to take part in an America tour. In the same year, he made his first solo recital in Xi’an Conservatory of Music Concert Hall, accompanied by Xi’an Conservatory of Music 2620 Percussion Group. In July 2006, Le obtained an Gold Medal of Percussion Ensemble Categary in National Youth Percussion Competition in Shanghai. In June 2009. He was then admitted to The 3rd Canton International Summer Music Academy (CISMA), with a full scholarship, studying under Don Liuzzi and Charles Dutoit (music director of CISMA). Le was invited to perform Ney Rosauro’s Marimba Concerto in 2007 at the CCTV (China Central Television) Summer Music Festival, with the Xi’an Conservatory of Music Youth Symphony Orchestra.

In September 2007, Le was offered a place with a scholarship at the Royal Northern College of Music(RNCM) in Manchester, UK. In his first year at the RNCM, he has won the Concerto Competition. Le is the member of 3+1 percussion quartet, which gave concerts in Macao and Hongkong in 2008. In the summer of 2008, he being awarded the top mark at the audition for Fondazione Cantiere Internazionale D`Arte di Montepulciano (International Youth Orchestra), Italy. Le performed Ney Rosauro Concerto for Marimba and Orchestra with RNCM Srting Orchestra on 17th RNCM Day of Percussion, conducted by Ian Wright. In May 2009, Le has received 2009 RNCM Solo Percussion Competition Prize. Also Le was RNCM Gold Medal Finalist 2009. In Summer of 2009, Le has perform on 4th National Youth Percussion Competition and Festival. Shanghai. China. In August he recevied invitation to performd with Moritzburg Festival Orchestra in Germany. Le has won 2nd Prize(1st not awarded) in the Marimba Section Category B of 7th Edition Italy International Percussion Competition,Fermo, in September.2009 . In March. 2010, His second time won RNCM Concerto Competition with Rhys Matthew, and will programmed an performance with RNCM orchestra in the 2010/2011. Le has also worked with Momoko Kamiya, John Beck, Nebojsa J.Zivkovic, Ney Rosauro, Eric Summat, Colin Currie, Daniella Ganeva, Jonathan Fox, Dave Samuels and Pedro Carneiro.

Le is currently undergraduate student at the RNCM, studying timpani with Ian Wright (RNCM Director of Percussion Studies), percussion with Paul Patrick (BBC Philharmonic principal percussionist), marimba with Liz Gilliver and Latin percussion under Dave Hassell.