Michael Udow is principal percussionist with the Santa Fe Opera (1968-present) and has directed the percussion program at the University of Michigan since 1982. Aside from his work with the dance/percussion duo Equilibrium, Udow performs extensively with Keiko Abe and is a member of Summit Brass. This season, Udow has performed at the Banff Centre, at the World Marimba Festival in Osaka-Swita, Japan, and a two-week Summit Brass tour in Austria and Germany. Udow composed the music to Token City, the multi-award-winning 3-D Animated Video and Installation by Muriel Magenta. His "Shattered Mirror Suite" was premiered by George Manahan and the Richmond Symphony Orchestra. His percussion teachers have included Alan Abel, Russell Hartenberger, Robert Lee, Jack McKenzie, Michael Ranta and Thomas Siwe. His composition teachers have included Warren Benson, Herbert Brun, Thomas Frederickson, Edwin London, Paul Steg and Thomas Whirtel.

Naoko Takada:A student of Akiko Suzuki, Karen Ervin-Pershing, and Gordon Stout. Her duet group "Chris & Naoko" was one of the finalists in PASIC Duet Competition 99. She is currently pursuing master degree of percussion performance in Ithaca College of Music where she teaches Percussion Class. (Added 2000.2.11)

JAMES WALKER has received degrees in percussion performance from Ithaca College (BM) and Northern Illinois University (MM, Performer's Certificate), and his primary teachers have included Gordon Stout and Bill Molenhof. He recently taught in the percussion department at Northern Illinois University near Chicago, and has also taught at Ithaca College. He has presented clinics at numerous colleges and universities around the United States. James specializes in jazz composition and performance (on vibraphone, marimba, and mallet synthesizer), and is a founding member of the Vokes-Walker Duo, a classical ensemble performing works for marimba and soprano. James has recently teamed with percussionist Mark Mahoney, forming an ensemble dedicated to exploring electronic mallet percussion. James has written for Percussive Notes, and he also authored the "Expressive Jazz Techniques" column for Jazz Player Magazine. His debut CD, "Rhyme or Reason," was released in November 2000, and has received radio airplay on jazz stations around the world. James endorses Mike Balter mallets, and the Xylosynth by Wernick Instruments. He currently resides in Connecticut (US), roughly an hour from New York City. (Added 2000.2.11, Modified 2001.5.30, Modified 2002.10.23)

Wherever he performs Andrew excites and enchants with his expressive intimacy, dazzlingly virtuosity and zestful playing. Known for his interpretation of major works as much as for popular jazz standards, Andrew's varied programmes mix attractive new compositions with fresh, innovative arrangements of time-honoured classics.

A feature of Andrew's communicative performances are his stimulating and informative introductions to both pieces and instruments, opening up an intriguing and fascinating world to the listener. The visual drama is unequalled by any other instrument whilst the aural dimension is haunting, beautiful, rich and captivating.

Andrew's solo playing has delighted music lovers from Edinburgh to Portsmouth, from the local Village Hall to Manchester's Bridgewater Hall and Birmingham's Symphony Hall, and from the West End of London to Moscow and China. He has entertained audiences of Ambassadors, thrilled children with special needs and inspired students at major Universities, Colleges and Conservatoires.

Playing for leading orchestras and ensembles at home and abroad, he has appeared many times on national Radio & TV. He has performed in the BBC Proms, and the Edinburgh, Cheltenham, Huddersfield and Salzburg festivals. Arts Council sponsored tours have given opportunities to perform in several world premieres, whilst overseas he has toured in Austria, The Czech Republic, Faeroe Islands, France, Norway, and Sweden. (Added 1999.5.10)

Praised by the New York Times for his ?understated but unmistakable virtuosity? along
with a ?winning combination of gentleness and fluidity,? Svet Stoyanov is Professor and Director
of Percussion at the Frost School of Music, University of Miami.
Mr. Stoyanov is a winner of the Concert Artists Guild International Competition in New
York City. This is also where he made his debut at Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher Hall as a cosoloist,
premiering the Phillip Glass Concerto Fantasy for Two Timpanists and Orchestra. Svet
Stoyanov has performed as a soloist with the Chicago, Seattle, American and Annapolis
Symphony Orchestras, as well as the Bulgarian Radio Orchestra, to name a few. Highlights in his
festival appearances include the The Ravinia Festival, Emilia Romagna, Made in America,
Arizona Friends of Chamber Music, River to River Festival, Look and Listen, PAS International
Conventions. Solo performances include Carnegie Hall?s Isaac Stern Auditorium and Weill Hall,
Merkin Hall, New Jersey Performing Arts Center, Benaroya Hall, Orange County Performing Arts
Center, Avery Fisher Hall, and The Kennedy Center.
Svet Stoyanov?s debut CD ?Percussive Counterpoint? was released in 2009 to great
acclaim from both composers featured on the disk as well as music critics. It has been aired on the
radio throughout the USA, as well as abroad. Featured works include a transcription of Steve
Reich?s Electric Counterpoint, a new recording of Alejandro Vi?ao's Khan Variations, Eric
Sammut's Four Rotations and a video performance of Thierry de Mey?s Musique de Tables - a
theatrical work ?Ballet? for 3 sets of hands (enhanced CD feature).
A strong advocate for new music, Svet Stoyanov has commissioned and premiered dozens
of works. Some upcoming projects include Six Songs of E.E. Cummings for soprano and marimba
by Robert Xavier Rodriguez, Prelude; Invention; Suspension for saxophone quartet, percussion,
double bass and drumset by Gary Lindsey, percussion duo work by Martin Bresnick, two piano/
two percussion piece by Mark Dancigers, as well as a vibraphone solo work by Bruce Adolphe.
A passionate educator, Svet Stoyanov has presented numerous clinics throughout Europe
and USA. Most recently he was invited to join the faculty of International Katarzyna Mycka
Marimba Academy (2009) in Frankfurt, and has been featured as an associate faculty member at
the Nancy Zeltsman's Marimba Festival (2007).
Mr. Stoyanov chooses the quality of Pearl/Adams Percussion Instruments, Vic Firth mallets
and sticks, as well as Remo drumheads.

Nancy Zeltsman is one of the most well known femail marimbists in the States. She is a member of unique duo with marimba and violin, Marimolin. She is now woking on new marimba duo and just held their debut reciatal in Boston. She is marimba instructor at the Berklee College of Music and Boston Conservatory. Graduate of New England Conservatory.
(Added 1997.6.12)

Founding member of the Manhattan Marimba Quartet. Premiered marimba works by Babbitt, Kupferman, Torke, Ichinaga, Ishii. Performed and recorded with Steve Reich, Philip Glass, PULSE Percussion Ensemble. Degrees from Manhattan School of Music. Faculty at Manhattan School of Music - Prep Division, The College of New Jersey, Rowan University.(Added 1999.7.11)

A pupil of Keiko Abe, Akiko SUZUKI has an excellent trancking record as a marimba teacher. Her students includes Junko Sakimura, Mie Saito and Nanae Mimura. She lives in Kunitachi, Tokyo. (Modified 1999.2.6)

Although known primarily as a marimbist, Blake TYSON is committed to the creation and performance of new music for all types of percussion by commissioning, composing, and premiering new works. Currently on the faculty of the University of Central
Arkansas, he believes that teaching is an important aspect of being a creative musician. For him, teaching is not only a way to share knowledge and experience, but also to create excitement for the percussive arts in a new generation of musicians. His clinics, masterclasses and performances have been received enthusiastically both in the United States and internationally.

Blake Tyson received DMA degree from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York. The faculty of the Eastman School also awarded Tyson the prestigious Performer's Certificate. He received the Master of Music degree from Kent State University in Kent, Ohio, and a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Alabama. His teachers include John Beck, Michael Burritt, Larry Mathis, and Peggy Benkeser. He has also studied derabucca with Halim El-Dabh and has devoted intensive study to El-Dabh's unique notational system for the instrument.

Blake Tyson has given recitals as both a solo and chamber artist throughout the United States. He has performed and taught in Ecuador as a guest of the National Conservatory. Recently, he visited Egypt where he performed at the Ministry of Culture in Cairo and as a soloist with the Orchestra de Biblioteca Alexandrina in Alexandria. He has performed as a percussionist with many orchestras throughout the United States, and is currently Principal Percussionist with the Conway Symphony. He has also performed at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention, the Northwest Percussion Festival, the Leigh Howard Stevens Summer Marimba Seminar, and has presented clinics and masterclasses at colleges and universities throughout the country. His solo marimba work Anubis will soon be published by Keyboard Percussion Publications.

Blake Tyson is a recital artist and clinician for Malletech marimbas, Zildjian cymbals, and Malletech and Zildjian sticks and mallets (Added 2002.8.31)

A composer and a marimba player. Studied marimba under Keiko Abe and the composition under Akira Miyoshi. Winner of the 1980 PAS International Composition Competition. ALM Records publishes his CDs and Zen-on publishes his music.
(Modified 2002.7.20)