(click to open) Nancy Zeltsman's Full Biography:

Nancy Zeltsman is a leading marimba performer, recording artist, teacher (The Boston Conservatory and Berklee College of Music), author, and festival director (Zeltsman Marimba Festival, Inc.). She has presented numerous recitals and marimba master classes across the United States as well as in Europe, Japan and Mexico.

Her recordings include three solo marimba CDs: Sweet Song (2005), See Ya Thursday (1999) and Woodcuts (1993); a marimba CD with Jack Van Geem, Pedro and Olga Learn to Dance (2004); and three CDs with Marimolin. During their eleven years together (1985-1996), the marimba/violin duo premiered nearly 80 pieces.

In addition, Nancy has premiered dozens of marimba solos and mixed chamber works involving marimba. In 2005, she performed Michael Tilson Thomas' "Island Music" (as one of two featured marimbists) with percussionists of the San Francisco Symphony (at Davies Hall) and with percussionists of the New World Symphony (at Miami's Lincoln Theatre and New York's Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall).

In the same year, she premiered William Thomas McKinley's marimba concerto "Childhood Memories" with Boston Modern Orchestra Project. "The ever-astonishing Nancy Zeltsman," wrote Richard Dyer in The Boston Globe, "played with sparkling rhythmic inflection, stamina, speed, accuracy, and a full spectrum of colors."

Zeltsman is Chair of the Percussion Department at The Boston Conservatory and an Associate Professor at Berklee College of Music. She has taught marimba at both institutions since 1993 in positions that were created for her. She is founder and Artistic Director of Zeltsman Marimba Festival, Inc., an annual two-week summer event (see www.ZMF.us). Zeltsman served as a judge for the International Marimba Competition for Students in Paris, France (October 2003), the Belgium International Marimba Competition (August 2001), and was one of twelve international players featured at The World Marimba Festival in Osaka, Japan (August 1998). Her marimba method, "Four Mallet Marimba Playing: A Musical Approach for All Levels," is published by Hal Leonard Corporation.

Nancy is a graduate of New England Conservatory where she was a student of Vic Firth. Prior to that, she studied intensively with Ian Finkel. She endorses Marimba One marimbas and the "Nancy Zeltsman Series" of Encore Mallets. Nancy lives in Boston, MA. Visit her website here.

Allen Joanis is a nationally known director for the WGI group Surround Sound and a composer and drill designer through his design company JW3.

Surround Sound website: www.s2percussion.org

JW3 website: www.jw3.com

(click to open) Allen Joanis's Full Biography:

Allen currently serves as President of JW3, a music publications and pageantry arts design company. (www.jw3.com) Allen also serves as the Executive Director, Program Coordinator, Music Composer/Arranger and Co-Visual Designer for the WGI World Class Percussion Ensemble Surround Sound Percussion located in Fort Worth, TX.

Allen is equally accomplished as a drill designer and composer/arranger for winds and percussion. He is an accomplished sound designer and audio technician with a specialty in music for film and media.

Allen's compositions are highly influenced by the music of Danny Elfman, James Newton Howard and Hans Zimmer.

Allen performed as a member of the 1993 Cadets of Bergen County Drum and Bugle Corps from Bergenfield, NJ (1993 DCI World Champions) and the 1995 Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corps from Newark, DE. He also performed as a member of the 1998 University of North Texas Indoor Drumline (1998 PASIC Indoor Drumline Champions). Allen has performed with the Lynchburg Symphony Orchestra from Lynchburg, VA as well as numerous chamber ensembles in Tennessee and Texas. Allen studied music at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA, Radford University in Radford, VA (BMME 2001) and the University of North Texas in Denton, TX.

Allen's scholastic instructional and design resume includes such groups as Marcus High School from Flower Mound, TX (2006 Texas 5A State Marching Band Champion and 9 Time PASIC Drumline Champion), Ronald Reagan High School from San Antonio, TX (2 time BOA Grand National Runner-up and 2004 WGI Open Class Finalist) and Dobyns-Bennett High School from Kingsport, TN (2000 WGI World Class Finalist).

Allen finished as the first runner-up in the 1998 PASIC College Snare Drum Championships. He served as Visual Caption Head for the 1998 Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps from Canton, OH and Percussion Caption Head for the 1999 Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps. He served on the percussion staff for the 2000, 2001, and 2003 Carolina Crown Drum and Bugle Corps from Fort Mill, SC. He also served as the drill designer for the 2007 Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps.

Allen is a Pearl/Adams performing artist and a proud endorser of Encore Mallets, Inc.

He is happily married to his wife Sandy. They have a wonderful son named Will. Allen enjoys riding his Trek mountain bike in his spare time as well as playing the game of "Life" with his son Will. (It's his favorite board game!)

(click to open) Bryan Carrott's Full Biography:

Bryan Carrott is an internationally renowned vibraphonist/mallet percussionist, who performs, records, and tours extensively in the jazz idiom. A prolific composer and improviser as well, Mr. Carrott is also an accomplished pianist. Bryan began percussion studies at New York's High School of Music and Art and continued at the Manhattan School of Music. He then went on to study at Brooklyn College under New York Philharmonic percussionist Morris Lang and William Paterson College, where he studied with Dave Samuels. Bryan completed degrees in Jazz Studies and Jazz Performance.

A two-time recipient of New York's "Meet the Composer Foundation", Bryan has been cited by Down Beat Magazine's International Critics' Poll seven of the last nine years for "Talent Deserving Wider Recognition" in the vibes category. Mr. Carrott was featured in the concert film "The Lounge Lizards Live in Berlin," as well as several television programs including "BET's JAZZ CENTRAL". Bryan can also be seen performing on marimba with Don Byron and Harvey Kietel in the film, "Lulu on the Bridge". He spent two years as a featured mallet percussionist for Disney's Broadway production of "The Lion King" and most recently performed with Branford Marsalis and his Quartet on the original soundtrack music composed by Marsalis for the Spike Lee produced film, "3 A.M.".

As a sideman Bryan has played with many top jazz groups including James Spaulding, Benny Powell, The Lounge Lizards, Kimati Dinizulu, and Roy Campbell. In recent years, he has been recording and performing with David "Fathead" Newman, Muhal Richard Abrahms, Butch Morris, The Jazz Passengers, Bob Moses, The Spirit of Life Ensemble, Henry Threadgill, Dave Douglas, Yoron Israel Connection, and Charlie Hunter. These performances include dates in the U.S., Europe, and Japan. In the Summer of 2006, Carrott is stated to perform with the world renown Ju Percussion Group in Teipei. Carrott has also collaborated with pianist/composer Riccardo Fassi for successful tours and festival performances in Italy. An original member of The Ralph Peterson Fo'tet, Bryan has composed, performed, and recorded with the group for the last ten years.

As a composer, Bryan has performed and presented his original music throughout the U.S., Europe and on recordings with the Fo'tet and vocalist Ruth Naomi Floyd, all to critical acclaim. He also performs and tours with his own groups the Bryan Carrott Trio, Quartet, and Quintet. Bryan performs and records exclusively with the Ross R715G vibraphone and R420W marimba.

(click to open) Nanae Mimura's Full Biography:

After graduating from Kunitachi College of Music, Nanae moved to the United States where she earned a masters degree at The Boston Conservatory. She then remained in Boston and taught at Berklee College of Music until 2004.

Having won many international competitions in her school years Nanae has been praised for her brilliant technique and rich, dynamic sound full of emotion. She is only the 3rd person ever to be awarded the Premio Alosi (Switzerland). She also won the top prize as a solo artist at the Concert Artists Guild Competition in New York, regarded by young musicians as the gateway to success, becoming the first marimbist to do so.

Thanks to that meteoric rise she was able to have her debut recital at Carnegie Hall in New York, a site that is aspiration of musicians all over the world. She has made her name know around the world as an international Japanese artist. While holding most of her concerts in the U.S. she has also been invited to play in Guatemala (Central America), where the marimba is a national symbol as well as playing with the Costa Rica National Symphony Orchestra in Costa Rica in the government-sponsored International Festival of Music. In all she has performed in concerts in over 15 countries, using music to promote international goodwill in a positive way.

Domestically she has released the albums "Marimba Spiritual" and "Universe". Her CD with arangements and cover versions of the pop music of such artists as Stevie Wonder and Enya brought new life to the marimba, won her both high praise and attention from different industries. As well as making her solo debut at Kioi Concert Hall she has been able to perform in the "Tokyu Silverter Concert" and "Live Image" and with such artists as Ken Hirai and Ryota Komatsu. Also, she has shown versatility by performing on the closing theme song for a Japanese animation, the image song for House Foods, and more.

Since changing her base of activities to Japan, she released her third (3rd) album in 3 and a half years "Prana" in February, 2006. This album differs greatly from her 2 earlier works with a newly reborn pop sound establishing her as a pioneer in the world of the marimba while bringing to life a distinctly 21st century sound. In addition, she has recorded three works which she composed herself. The marimba was born in Africa and Central America and brought up in the US and Japan. Now, Japanese artist Nanae Mimura is carving a new history on the world stage.

(click to open) Nick Petrella's Full Biography:

Nick Petrella is the Director of Education for Sabian Ltd. He maintains a full schedule as a performer and has commissioned and premiered over a dozen new compositions. Nick has many solo, chamber and large ensemble performances to his credit. He received a Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Iowa, a Master of Music from the University of Michigan and a Bachelor of Science in Music Education from Penn State University. Nick was on the faculty of Oakland University from 2002 to 2006. He was the Director of Percussion Studies at Texas Christian University from 1996 to 2001. In 1998, the TCU Percussion Ensemble performed as the first percussion ensemble invited to the Verbier Festival in Switzerland. During the 1992-93 academic year, Nick was invited to develop the percussion pedagogy course at the Royal Northern College of Music, England. It was the first of its kind in the United Kingdom. He was the percussion coach for two consecutive years with the World Youth Orchestra, in Switzerland and Taiwan, and has been an adjudicator for many marching, solo and percussion ensemble competitions throughout the US. Committed to percussion education, Nick has published numerous articles in US and European music journals. He is the author of two Carl Fischer publications: The Ultimate Guide to Cymbals w/DVD and The Multiple-Percussion Book w/CD, which has been translated into French, German, Italian and Spanish. He holds nine designs for sticks, mallets and percussion accessories currently on the market, and has been a consultant to many companies in the music industry. Nick is a Yamaha performing artist and has appeared as a clinician, teacher and performer throughout North America, Europe and Asia.

(click to open) Naoko Takada's Full Biography:

Naoko Takada was born in Tokyo, Japan. Her 2004-2005 season started with Paul Newman's Gala Event where she had a stage with Hollywood stars Bruce Willis, Meryl Streep, Danny Glover and others. She appeared as a soloist with many orchestras including Houston Symphony; China National Symphony Orchestra, Fargo-Moorhead Symphony, SanAngelo Symphony, DuPage Symphony; Tokyo Symphony Orchestra; Tokyo Chamber Orchestra; Xalapa Symphony (Mexico).

She had appeared in many mass media including WQXR (NY radio), WGBH (Boston radio) , LA Japanese radio, RTHK (Hong Kong radio). In 2003, she had a showcase concert at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention in Kentucky. In 2004, she appeared as a guest performer in the Belgium International Marimba Festival. She had taught masterclasses in Veracruzana del Universidad in Mexico, China Central Conservatory of Music in China and many universities throughout the USA along her solo concert tour. In 2002, she was an instructor of marimba at the Ju Percussion Group's Summer Camp in Taipei, Taiwan. In 2003, she taught marimba at KOSA International Workshops and Festival at Vermont, USA. She will be at Nancy Zeltsman Marimba Festival this summer. Naoko Takada is a Yamaha performing artist and an endorser of Encore Mallets, Inc. She now resides in Los Angeles and Tokyo where she works with private students in her spare time.

She won First Prize in the Young Concert Artist International Audition and also awarded the Beracasa Foundation Prize. She had a debut at the Tokyo Opera City Recital Hall, Tokyo, 92nd Street Y in New York, the Kennedy Center in Washington DC, and the Gardena Museum in Boston. Her successful recitals were reviewed in many newspapers and magazines. Her other awards include First Prize in the nationally known Ima Hogg National Young Artist Competition, the Sorantin Young Artist award International competition, and the Japan International League of Artists Competition.

At the age of eight, Naoko began studying marimba with Akiko Suzuki. Naoko attended Tokyo Metropolitan International High School, majoring in International Studies. In 1995, she went to Waseda University, where she majored in Psychology. In 1996, she gave her first solo marimba recital in Tokyo. In 1996-97, she was selected to be an exchange student to the United States, and received a full scholarship to study percussion with Karen Ervin-Pershing at California State University, Northridge (CSUN). During her time as an exchange student, she won the CSUN Concerto Competition and the CSUN California Music Scholarship. She also won the Larrie Londin Memorial Scholarship from the Percussive Arts Society. In 1997, she officially changed her major to Music Performance. That year, she won the Music Etude Endowment from CSUN and the Sigma Alpha Iota (SAI) Best Instrumentalist Scholarship. She was presented with her award at the SAI Winner's Recital in California. After her graduation from California State University Northridge, she earned her MM at Ithaca College under the instruction of Gordon Stout, an internationally famous marimba player. She received a scholarship and an assistantship from Ithaca College. As part of her assistantship at Ithaca, she was given the opportunity of teaching a percussion course, fulfilling her dream of becoming a teacher. After completing her MM at Ithaca, Takada studied with Nancy Zeltsman in Boston.

(click to open) Douglas Walter's Full Biography:

Professor of Percussion Douglas Wm. Walter is the only marimba and vibraphone artist to have won First Prize in the Concert Artists Guild Competition in NYC. He has performed over 300 solo recitals and concerti throughout 40 states, Canada, Brazil and 8 countries in Europe, in addition to international conventions of the Percussive Arts Society, International Association of Jazz Educators and MENC.
An accomplished orchestral musician, Dr. Walter has performed with the Dallas, Fort Worth, Oregon, Santa Fe Opera, Colorado Ballet and Philadelphia Orchestras. He is Principal with the Boulder Philharmonic, Colorado Music Festival and Sunriver Music Festival Orchestras. He has toured for 20 years with the Westminster Brass.
As a jazz musician he has recorded (on drum set and vibes) with Michael Pagàn, the UNT 1:00 Lab Band, the Modest Jazz Trio, the Lawless Jazz ensemble, The CU Jazz Asylum Faculty Quintet, the DAD Trio and the Doug Walter Vibraphone Trio. Dr. Walter holds a dual BM degree from North Texas State U., summa cum laude, two Masters degrees (orchestral conducting and percussion) from the University of Michigan and a DMA degree from Temple University, where he studied with Alan Abel and David Samuels.
Dr. Walter's compositions are published by Dutch Music Partners, Matrix Publishing and Alfred. He endorses Encore Mallets, Sabian Cymbals and Yamaha Mallet Instruments.