Dr. Thom Hasenpflug is nationally recognized as a unique performer and educational voice, while his compositions for percussion receive international recognition and are played all over the world. Currently the Director of Percussion Studies (Associate Professor of Music) at Idaho State University , he has held prior teaching posts at Drake University, the University of South Dakota, Emporia State University, and the Tennessee Governor's School for the Arts.

Dr. Hasenpflug has presented performances, clinics and masterclasses at many universities, high schools, and festivals, for several Percussive Arts Society chapter Days of Percussion, and at the 2005 PAS International Convention. As a composer, he has been commissioned by some of the field

Pius Cheung, as quoted by the legendary pianist Gary Graffman as "remarkably gifted ... elegant and virtuosic music-making", is a young rising marimba artist and composer. Pius' repertoire features largely compositions by himself, and arrangements of music by Bach and Chopin. Since age 10, he has appeared as a marimba soloist around the world including Canada, the United States, Russia, China, Australia, Holland and Mexico. Pius made his U. S. concerto debut with the Philadelphia Orchestra in 2003 at the Kimmel Center, and has appeared as a concerto soloist during the World Music Forum 1999 in Russia.

Recent performances include a concerto appearance with the British Columbia Chamber Orchestra performing Bach's Keyboard Concerto in d minor, BWV 1052, as well as concerts and masterclasses at the V Festival Internacional de Marimbistas in Mexico, and Zeltsman Marimba Festival 2005 and 2006, Amsterdam Conservatory, University of Michigan, Boston Conservatory and Boston University.

In 2006, Pius released his debut album of Bach's Complete Goldberg Variations, arranged for solo marimba by himself. The CD is currently on sale at Amazon, Steve Weiss Music, Brant Percussion, iTunes, Rhapsody.com and his own Pius Cheung Online Music Store.

As a composer, Pius has written numerous works for the marimba, including a set of five Musical Moments (Lust, Storm, Solitude, Dance of the Golden Mean, and Romance) for solo marimba, Marimba Concerto with String Orchestra, Sonata No. 1 "Vitanata", Etude in e minor, and Ballade for Eriko Daimo. His music is published by the Connecticut Hills Music Publishing Company and MPC Music Publishing.

Pius is a Yamaha Performing Artist and Vic Firth endorser. He received his Bachelor of Music from the Curtis Institute of Music, and his Artist Diploma from The Boston Conservatory.

For more information including full bio, repertoire, CD sound clips and upcoming performances, please visit www.piuscheung.com

Graduate of Senzoku Music University, Tokyo. Studied under Junko Sakimura, Tomoyuki Okada, etc. A member of Ensemble Historia.

- Professor for Marimba at the 'Bruckneruniversity' in Linz / Austria
-Artistic Director at the "International Marimba Festival and Competition" Linz
- Leader of the 'PRISMA' - Percussion Quartet
- Endorser for 'ADAMS' Marimbas
-Professor at the 'Katarzyna Mycka Marimba Academy', Poland

-Professor at the "International Marimba Festival Adelaide" 2005, Australien

-Jury-Member "International Competition for Percussion Instruments - Pendim" in Plovdiv, Bulgarien

-Jury-Member at the "International Marimba Competition" Ljubljana 2005







"Born to play...
There are unique aspects in Bogdan B

Mike HAMNETT is a graduate of the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester.UK,Mike's career has covered pretty much every musical base possible,from world premieres of several concerti,most notably Paul Mitchell-Diavidson's "Aficana" broadcast on national television,to free-wheeling jazz and salsa,via many West End shows (Pirates of Penzance mallets chair,Lion King African and mallets,and assistant conductor,amongst others) and contemporary and orchestral concerts and recordings with the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra,BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra,Halle Orchestra and the Manchester Camerata. Currently working on Disney's production of the Lion King in London,future plans include recording a new album of original compositions with his new group "Project One",and an ongoing collaboration with the violinist Susanna Jordan. Mike can be contacted at:mikeymd@btinternet.com (Added 2002.8.31)

Actively playing around Japan as duo with Christopher Hurdy.　Teaching at Kunitachi music college.

Ludwig Albert graduated with distinctions at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Antwerp, Belgium and obtained a first prize for percussion with Prof.L.Cauberghs.
After his study as musician and pedagogue , he cooperated with several orchestra's and teached at the Conservatory and the State School for art in Antwerp.
In 1993 he specialised in solo-marimba and recieved with distinctions the Honours Diplome of solo-marimba (prof.L.Ouderits) and participated several International Masterclasses( R.von Sice , Michael Roosen...) In 1994 , he was the first Belgian marimbist admitted to the Toho Gakuen Music School in Japan and studied with the world-famous marimba-virtuoso Ms.Keiko Abe.
Afterwards he was invited to perform with her in Japan and Belgium.

Starting 1995 he searched for new sound-combinations and founded the duo marimba-soprano, nowadays called Patrasche , embellished with percussion . By this combination of singing and marimba , they developed a style of their own , performing own compositions (L.Albert), creations, arrangements of songs and improvisations based on International traditional folksongs. Their musical combination evokes a fascinating world. For their first album "Japanese Impressions" ( label Digi-classics) they recieved International outstanding critics by press and media and they were guest of several
special dedicated radio-broadcastings. During 1996-97 , they performed abroad and were invited to perform several concerts in Japan. Afterwards they performed succesfully the INternational Concert-production "Dialogue in Nature " with Keiko Abe.
Starting 2000 they will release new albums with mainly improvisations , creations and arrangements of Belgian and European folksongs.

Aside his various marimba-recitals he's working intensively to promote the marimba as a solo-concertinstrument and is organising several marimba-projects. During 1996 he recieved the Europalia Cultural award , which has given him the possibility to continue his collaboration with Keiko Abe.
Recently he founded the first Belgian Marimba Society with mainly the purpose to increase the knowledge of the marimba and to organise several events.

In recent Years , aside performing and composing , he's working intensively to commission new pieces by Belgian composers. During 1999-2000 he will produce several new CD-albums in different musical styles by the label Talent Records, also to introduce the marimba to a general audience.
-The Dancing Marimba (own classical arrangements May 99')
-Marimba Freeze (techno Jazz, new-age July 99')
-Marimba Paraphrases ( masterworks for solo&duo marimba dec.99')
He will also publish a serial of his compositions , arrangements and a marimba-methode .

During 1999-2000 he will perform aside solo-concerts several new
concert-production:
-Wooden Conversation (with Kamiya Momoko,Shinsuke Ishihara-Japan)
-Dialogue in Nature (with Keiko Abe)
-Marimba Sounds (new CD-collection)
-Japanese Impressions (trio Patrasche-Japanese folksongs)
-Clanck & Sanck (trio Patrache - Belgian folksongs and creations)
-Het Quamen drij Coninghen (Patrache - Christmas songs)
-concert for children (Patrasche)
(Added 1999.4.11)

Born in 1937, Maestro Abe is one of the first person to make Marimba a solo instrument and received the award from the Ministry of Culture for four times. Her repatoir spans Solo, popular, classic, Japanese folk songs to concerti. In 1981, she played "Lauda Concertata" with America Symphony (Dir. Comissioner) at the Carnegie Hall, and in 1988, she appeared at the Berlin Philharmony Hall.
She is also famous for her composition such as "Dream of Cherry Blossoms". Numerous CDs has been published.
She currently teaches at Toho Gakuen University.
(Modified 1999.7.12)