Yuko is an active performer based in Boston, MA, having wide range of repertoire of marimba, percussion literatures.
As a committed contemporary musician, Yuko takes an active interest in commissioning new music aiming to discover and collaborate with composers.
She has commissioned and premiered solo marimba and chamber works by numerous composers such as Dana Brayton, Pius Cheung, Lachlan Fife, Alfred Marra, Shawn Michalek, Lior Navok, Cayenna Ponchione, Rudolf Rojahn, Akie Takada.
As she continues to support new music literatures, she recently founded composition competitions for solo marimba, and percussion trio which she has recently formed and scheduled a number of commissions and concerts.

She also performs frequently as an entertainment musician around Boston area.
She is a contracted musician at Sutton Entertainment Services, and performing local schools, hospitals, private parties, churches, also Harvard Club, and Fenway Park.

She has been invited to Music Festivals including: KoSA X ( '05), SMARTS Institute ( '05),is Hih and Zeltsman Marimba Festival ( '04).
She also has performed with orchestras and bands including Rhythmusa with Dave Samuels as a part of Berklee Percussion Festival Concerts ( '05), Binghamton Community Orchestra (NY), Middlesex Concert Band (MA), also she was one of soloists for The Creation by Cayenna Ponchione performed at PASIC '04.

A recipient of several awards including: Winner of the Aspen Music Festival and School Solo Competition (2000), Artists prize at Naniwa Arts Foundation Festival (1999), and Winner of Graduation Solo Competition at Osaka College of Music (1999).
She was also a semi-finalist in the World Marimba Competition in Stuttgart (2002) and semi-finalist in International Marimba Competition Belgium (2004).

Ms. Yoshikawa began her musical training starting with piano at age of three, percussion at nine, marimba at fifteen.
She holds B.M. in percussion performance from Osaka College of Music in Japan, and M.M. in marimba performance from The Boston Conservatory where she studied with world-renowned marimbist Nancy Zeltsman and principal percussionist at Boston Pops, Pat Hollenbeck.

Yuko endorses Marimba One instrument.

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

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)

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)

Tracy Wiggins is coordinator of the percussion program and marching band director at The University of North Carolina at Pembroke. He is also a candidate for the Doctor of Musical Arts degree at The HARTT School, University of Hartford. Mr. Wiggins holds a Masters Degree in Percussion Performance from the University of New Mexico and a Bachelors Degree in Music Education from Oklahoma State University. He has done post-masters work at The Ohio State University.

Mr. Wiggins varied musical interests are reflected in his performance credits, highlights of which include: orchestral work with the Alabama Symphony Orchestra, The Fayetteville Symphony, The New Mexico Symphony Orchestra, the Waterbury (CT) Symphony, the New Britain (CT) Symphony, the Westerville (Ohio) Civic Symphony and as principal percussionist for the Santa Fe Symphony; solo appearances at the University of New Mexico's Composers Symposium, Oklahoma State University, Samford University, The Hartt School, Western Connecticut State University, The University of Alabama-Birmingham, and The Ohio State University; percussion and drumset work for "Cathy Rigby is Peter Pan" and the touring Broadway musical "Ragtime

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)

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)

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.

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)

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)