Marimba Soloist & Freelance Percussion Career

Performing Career Highlights

In the early 1990’s I began focusing on free lance timpani and percussion gigs as well as developing my solo marimba career. I moved to Minneapolis and enjoyed the thriving musical scene that existed there and was able to create some of my own opportunities.  Here are some highlights:

• Timpanist of the Plymouth Music Series Orchestra
• Auditioned and won a percussion spot with the Minnesota Opera Orchestra
• Played numerous shows, including “Hello Dolly” with Carol Channing which included recording the 2004 cast album
• Joined the music faculty at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, MN
• Produced the Heartwood Marimba Series at Hamlin University for three years bringing in artists like Nancy Zeltsman, Orlando Cotto, and Kay Stonefelt along with my performances, including premieres of commissioned pieces (“Ilijash” by Nebojsha Zivcovic, “Recurrences” by Bruce Hamilton, “Jazz Suite for Marimba” by Joan Griffith and my own composition, “For Alice”.

Invited to Perform in Tokyo

In 1996, Keiko Abe invited me to come to Japan to perform on a concert with her and to present a masterclass to her students at Toho School of Music.

Double Concerto Concert

Conductor David Bowden of the Columbus Indiana Philharmonic Orchestra asked me to return for another performance of Russell Peck’s “The Glory and The Grandeur” (with percussionists Jonathan Wacker and Gerald Noble) and on the same concert, a marimba concerto. I chose to perform “Prism Rhapsody” by Keiko Abe. The concert was a huge success.

Artist Residency in Argentina

In September of 2000, I was invited for a one week teaching and performing residency at the Fundacion Cultural Patagonia in Gr. Roca, Argentina. This was my first trip to that unique and beautiful country.

I performed with their percussion ensemble and played a solo marimba recital, including the South American premiere of “Recurrences” by Bruce Hamilton – which won an American Composers Forum commissioning and travel grant.

Latin America Tours

I was blessed with the opportunity to tour in Latin America in 2003 and 2004 with performances at the Brasil Day of Percussion in  2003, with a return trip to Argentina the same year.

In 2004 I spent two weeks in Chile, first a one week Residency, teaching and performing with the students, at the Catholic University in Valparasio, then a week in Santiago participating in the International Contemporary Music Festival.

Spain

2004 also brought an invitation to Valencia, Spain for performing and teaching and sightseeing!

Virginia Commission for the Arts

From 2002 to 2016 I was selected to be included as a performing artist in the Virginia Commision for the Arts Touring Program (re-auditioning every 3 years).

I saw most of the different parts of the state, from coal mining country in the west, to the Washington DC suburbs. There was lots of variety, from school residencies and assembly concerts, to formal recitals and performing with students.

The collaboration with the children of SCORE in Warrenton was a real high point. Our concert was filled with marimba music, Orff instruments, string ensembles and choral works. These kids were amazing!

Doctoral Jury Invitation

In the fall of 2016 I was invited by the University of Antwerp to be part of the jury for Ludwig Albert’s doctoral dissertation defense. I was asked to serve as an expert on marimba acoustics, technique and performance.

I was honored to participate. I flew to Belgium for 6 days in early December for the activities in Antwerp and also presented a one day masterclass at the Antwerp Conservatory of Music.