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)

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.

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)

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)

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)

Kai Stensgaard was among the first Scandinavian musicians to approach the marimba as a serious solo instrument. Throughout the last 15 years he has toured extensively and given more than 3.000 concerts, masterclasses and clinics in various venues in Northern Europa, Mexico, Puerto Rico, U.S.A. and Japan along with numerous radio and television broadcasts. He was recognized in 1989 as the first recipient of the North Jutland Music Award. He has produced several CDs displaying the marimba's myriad of textures. (added 2000.11.6)

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)

Gordon Stout is one of the most prominant marimbist of our time and also known as the composer of Two Mexican Dances. Numerous published compositions (M. Baker Publications, Studio 4 Productions) are present. He is a professor, percussion; chair, Department of Performance Studies at the School of Music of Ithca College. As a Lecturer-recitalist, Percussive Arts Society, he appearing at international conventions.

He studied with James Salmon, John Beck, percussion; Samuel Adler, Warren Benson, composition. He has M.M., B.M., performer's certificate, Eastman School of Music.

Formerly, faculty, St. Mary's College in Maryland; music director, Tidewater Music Festival. Also, he is a founding member, Eastman Marimba Band; member, Wilder Duo, with Bob Levy, trumpet.

Numerous recordings for Studio 4, Mercury Golden Imports, Crystal Records, Golden Crest Records, including solo albums, and with Brian Bowman, David Craighead, Eastman Marimba Band, Michael Burritt. gstout@ithaca.edu
. (Added 1997.6.12, Updated 1999.4.14)

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)

Nebojsa Jovan Zivkovic (Neboysha Yovan Chivkovich b.1962) is undoubtedly one of the most eminent and most interesting marimba and percussion soloists currently working in Europe, not least because of his captivating performance and powerful emotional expression, which make his concerts an outstanding experience. His consistent duality, his untiring work - both as composer and performer - account for his unique artistic personality.
Zivkovic completed his master's degrees in composition, music theory and percussion in Germany. His concert tours have taken him through Germany, Austria, Belgium, Poland, the Netherlands, Yugoslavia, Greece, Czechia and repeatedly to the USA.
Contemporary music is an important part of Zivkovic's repertoire, and many composers have written works dedicated to him. His own music can best be described as