Marimba Players

Abe, Keiko

Marimbist, composer and educator whose performances, commissions and collaboration with Yamaha helped shape the modern five-octave concert marimba.

Aita, Mizuki

Percussionist, vibraphonist and composer. Aita is scheduled to play the marimba solo in Masahiro Yamauchi's Hikari no Kodama at Orchestra Project 2026.

Akbarov, MukhammaAziz

MukhammaAziz Akbarov appears among the main prize recipients of the Universal Marimba Competition in Belgium.

Albert, Ludwig

Ludwig Albert is a Belgian marimbist, composer, educator, and artistic director whose work spans concert performance, recordings, marimba pedagogy, instrument development, and international competitions. In July 2026 he served as founder and artistic director of the 10th Universal Marimba Competition Belgium.

Alibek, Kabdurahmanov

Kabdurahmanov Alibek appears among the main prize recipients of the Universal Marimba Competition in Belgium.

Araya, Shoko

Shoko Araya is a Japanese marimbist, percussionist, composer, singer-songwriter, and educator. She graduated from Kunitachi College of Music, earned a master's degree in percussion at the University of Michigan, and received the 2017 Aomori Prefecture Culture Award. Her work connects classical and improvised performance with voice, theater and spoken-word music, recordings, body percussion, and participatory workshops.

Auglys-Stanevičius, Saulius

Saulius Auglys-Stanevičius, also credited as Saulius Auglys, is a Lithuanian percussionist, marimbist, composer, arranger, educator, and festival organizer whose work spans orchestral performance, contemporary Lithuanian music, recordings, competitions, and international workshops.

Axoum Duo

Axoum Duo is a marimba duo formed in 2000 by French percussionist and composer Gabriel Collet and Polish percussionist Elwira Ślązak.

Bácanu, Bogdan

Bogdan Bácanu is a Romanian marimbist and educator. He studied marimba with Peter Sadlo at Mozarteum University Salzburg. He is Professor of Marimba at Anton Bruckner Private University (as of July 22, 2026), a position he first took at age 23. He founded the Wave Quartet and, in 2006, an international marimba competition. Composers including John Thrower, Alexander Müllenbach, and Emmanuel Séjourné have written works for him.

Bai, Shengyu

Shengyu Bai appears among the main prize recipients of the Universal Marimba Competition in Belgium.

Bak, Hyeji

South Korean percussionist Hyeji Bak won first prize at the 2015 Universal Marimba Competition in Belgium and first prize with six special prizes at the 2019 Concours de Genève percussion competition.

Bao, Yungshang

Yungshang Bao appears among the main prize recipients of the Universal Marimba Competition in Belgium.

Bednarska, Marianna

Marianna Bednarska won second prize in the percussion category of the 2019 Concours de Genève and second prize in the 2017 Universal Marimba Competition in Belgium.

Berg, Daniel

Swedish marimba soloist, percussionist, composer and educator, active in solo performance, chamber music and new repertoire.

Bilić, Ivana

Ivana Bilić is a marimba performer and served on the World Marimba Competition jury in 2012, 2022.

Bohm, Lukas

Lukas Bohm appears among the main prize recipients of the Universal Marimba Competition in Belgium.

Bordón, Astrid Espinosa

Astrid Espinosa Bordón appears among the main prize recipients of the Universal Marimba Competition in Belgium.

Bridger, Johan

Johan Bridger appears among the main prize recipients of the Universal Marimba Competition in Belgium.

Burgess, Joby

Joby Burgess is a British percussionist whose work spans solo performance, chamber music, new commissions, recording sessions, and film and television scores. He directs the projects Powerplant and Pioneers of Percussion and organized the 2020 Virtual Marimba Choir, which brought together 227 performers from 40 countries.

Burritt, Michael

Michael Burritt is a percussionist, marimbist, composer, and educator. He is Professor of Percussion, Paul J. Burgett Distinguished Professor, and chair of Woodwinds, Brass & Percussion at the Eastman School of Music (as of July 15, 2026). Before joining Eastman, he taught at Northwestern University from 1995 to 2008. He earned bachelor's and master's degrees and the Performers Certificate from Eastman. His compositions include concertos and solo and chamber works for marimba and percussion.

Burton, Gary

Gary Burton is an American jazz vibraphonist and educator whose four-mallet approach influenced modern vibraphone playing. A seven-time Grammy Award recipient, he led ensembles, recorded extensively with Chick Corea and other major jazz musicians, and taught at Berklee from 1971 until retiring in 2004.

Cagigao, Veronica B.

Veronica B. Cagigao appears among the main prize recipients of the Universal Marimba Competition in Belgium.

Carneiro, Pedro

Pedro Carneiro is a Portuguese percussionist, conductor, composer, and educator. He co-founded and serves as artistic director of the Portuguese Chamber Orchestra, the inclusive ensemble Notas de Contacto, and the Portuguese Youth Orchestra. He has premiered more than 100 works as performer or conductor and regularly directs concertante works from the marimba. He is a professor at the Lisbon School of Music (as of the 2025/26 season).

Castaneda, Carlos G.

Carlos G. Castaneda appears among the main prize recipients of the Universal Marimba Competition in Belgium.

Cheung, Pius

Pius Cheung is a marimbist, percussionist, composer, and educator. His solo-marimba recording of Bach's Goldberg Variations brought broad attention to his work as an interpreter. His compositions include solo and ensemble percussion music, concertos, and the ballet Heaven and Earth. He is Professor and Chair of the Percussion Area at the University of Oregon (as of July 15, 2026).

Collet, Gabriel

Gabriel Collet appears among the main prize recipients of the Universal Marimba Competition in Belgium.

Condon, Owen Clayton

Crawford, Stephen

Daimo, Eriko

Eriko Daimo appears among the main prize recipients of the Universal Marimba Competition in Belgium.

Dart, Rich

David, Fernandez

Fernandez David appears among the main prize recipients of the Universal Marimba Competition in Belgium.

Duo Contrastes (Marimba/violin)

Fan, Ni

Ni Fan appears among the main prize recipients of the Universal Marimba Competition in Belgium.

Ferrière, Adélaïde

Marimbist and percussionist, an orchestral soloist and featured artist in Deutsche Grammophon’s Rising Stars series.

Ford, Mark

Mark Ford is a marimba artist, percussionist, composer, and educator. His works for solo marimba and percussion ensemble include Polaris, Stubernic, Head Talk, and Marimba Heritage. He has also published method books including Marimba: Technique Through Music. He is Professor in Instrumental Studies and Coordinator of Percussion at the University of North Texas (as of July 15, 2026), and a past president of the Percussive Arts Society.

Freibergs, Guntars

Guntars Freibergs appears among the main prize recipients of the Universal Marimba Competition in Belgium.

Friedman, David

David Friedman is a marimba performer and served on the World Marimba Competition jury in 1996, 2008.

Fujii, Mutsuko

Mutsuko Fujii, a percusionist, a marimbist, and a Sanukite player (Sanukaite is a marimba like instrument made of a type of stone called Sanukite), graduated Tokyo Geijutsu Daigaku in 1971 and since then, she has been actively playing as a percussionist as well as a solo and duo marimba player. She has commissioned over 40 works for the marimba from Japanese composers.

Fujisawa, Nina

Nina Fujisawa appears among the main prize recipients of the Universal Marimba Competition in Belgium.

FUTATSUGI, Chiyuki

FUTATSUGI Chiyuki is a marimbist and percussionist active with Geidai Philharmonia, in recordings and tours of Joe Hisaishi’s music, and in arranging, writing instructional books and university teaching.

Galvan, Elisabeth

Elisabeth Galvan appears among the main prize recipients of the Universal Marimba Competition in Belgium.

Geoffroy, Jean

Jean Geoffroy is a marimba performer and served on the World Marimba Competition jury in 2012.

Giannascoli, Greg

Greg Giannascoli is a marimba and percussion artist and a percussionist with the Princeton Symphony Orchestra. He won the 2001 Artist International New York Recital / Young Artist Competition and was a top prizewinner of the 1997 Patrons of Wisdom International Young Artist Competition.

Glennie, Evelyn

Dame Evelyn Glennie is a solo percussionist and composer. Her official biography describes her as the first person to create and sustain a full-time career as a solo percussionist. She has commissioned more than 200 works and recorded more than 40 albums. Her honors include two Grammy Awards, the Polar Music Prize, the Léonie Sonning Music Prize, and appointment as a Companion of Honour. She also established the Evelyn Glennie Foundation in 2023.

Golinski, Tomasz

Tomasz Golinski appears among the main prize recipients of the Universal Marimba Competition in Belgium.

Hama, Mayumi

Mayumi Hama is a marimbist. In February 2022 she gave a Keiko Abe programme at Tokyo Opera City Recital Hall.

Hamnett, Mike

Marimba, vibraphone and percussion player, pianist and arranger; a graduate of the Royal Northern College of Music.

Harnsberger, Andy

Andy Harnsberger is an American percussionist, marimbist, composer, and educator. He earned a Doctor of Musical Arts and Performer's Certificate from the Eastman School of Music, performs as a soloist and in the Harnsberger/Jones Duo, and has released five solo albums. He is Professor of Music and Coordinator of Percussion at Lee University (as of July 15, 2026).

Hasenpflug, thom

Hsieh, Yao-Te

Yao-Te Hsieh appears among the main prize recipients of the Universal Marimba Competition in Belgium.

Huang, Jin-Wei

Jin-Wei Huang appears among the main prize recipients of the Universal Marimba Competition in Belgium.

Huang, Po-Yuan

Po-Yuan Huang appears among the main prize recipients of the Universal Marimba Competition in Belgium.

Ideta, Ria

Ria Ideta is a Vienna-born, Kumamoto-raised marimbist and arranger based in Berlin. She studied at the conservatoires in Paris and Strasbourg and won first prize at the inaugural International Marimba Competition in Paris in 2003. A principal artist with Kammeroper München since 2012, she is also a guest professor at Heisei College of Music and the London Performing Arts Academy and serves as chair of Loop Kumamoto Music Festival 2026.

Ihara, Yukako

Yukako Ihara is a marimba player who placed fourth in the percussion division of the 19th Japan Wind and Percussion Competition in 2002.

Iida, Noriko

Marimbist and Senzoku Gakuen graduate, active in solo and ensemble performance, recording and school concerts.

Ikegami, Hideki

Hideki Ikegami is a percussionist and performer. He was the marimba soloist in Akira Ifukube’s Lauda Concertata at the Japan Philharmonic Orchestra’s 756th Tokyo subscription concert.

Ishida, Machi

Machi Ishida received joint first prize, Audience Award, and best final-round set-piece performance at the 2022 World Marimba Competition.

Ishida, Maho

Maho Ishida appears among the main prize recipients of the Universal Marimba Competition in Belgium.

Ishihara, Shinsuke

Born in Tokyo in 1975, Shinsuke Ishihara began piano at the age of three, took up percussion at thirteen, and came to the marimba at twenty. He graduated at the top of his class from Toho Gakuen College of Music and went on to graduate with the highest distinction ("grootste onderscheiding") from the Royal Conservatoire of Antwerp. He performed under the stage name SINSKE from 2003 until September 2024, and now appears under his own name as Shinnosuke Ishihara (石原慎之助).

Ishii, Kikuko

Kikuko Ishii is a percussionist and professor at Senzoku Gakuen College of Music, active in solo, ensemble, recording, and university teaching work.

Iwami, Reina

Reina Iwami appears among the main prize recipients of the Universal Marimba Competition in Belgium.

Jacobowitz, Alex

Alex Jacobowitz is a New York-born marimba and xylophone soloist, street performer, and author. After studying marimba and xylophone with Gordon Stout and Leigh Howard Stevens, he won the DCI Individual Keyboard Competition in 1981.

Jose, Garcia

Garcia Jose appears among the main prize recipients of the Universal Marimba Competition in Belgium.

Kamiya, Momoko

Momoko Kamiya is a Japanese marimbist and educator. A Juilliard School graduate and first-prize winner at the 1995 Luxembourg International Marimba Competition, she performs, teaches, premieres new music, and serves on international competition juries. As of August 13, 2026, she is professor of percussion at Tokyo College of Music, guest professor at Senzoku Gakuen College of Music and Elisabeth University of Music, and percussion faculty at Kunitachi College of Music.

Kaneva, Agleya

Agleya Kaneva appears among the main prize recipients of the Universal Marimba Competition in Belgium.

Kann, Elten Anders

Elten Anders Kann appears among the main prize recipients of the Universal Marimba Competition in Belgium.

Kano, Mieko

Mieko Kano appears among the main prize recipients of the Universal Marimba Competition in Belgium.

Kano, Rina

Rina Kano appears among the main prize recipients of the Universal Marimba Competition in Belgium.

Kao, Han-Yen

Han-Yen Kao appears among the main prize recipients of the Universal Marimba Competition in Belgium.

Kaptain, Laurence

Laurence Kaptain is a cimbalom artist, percussionist, marimba researcher, and educator. He is Professor of Music and Entertainment Studies and former Dean of the College of Arts & Media at the University of Colorado Denver.

Katny, Arkadiusz

Kato, Daiki

Daiki Kato is a marimba and percussion performer, composer, and arranger.

Katō, Kuniko

Kuniko Katō is a Japanese marimbist and percussionist from Aichi. A graduate with highest honours from the Rotterdam Conservatory, she has expanded music by Reich, Pärt, Xenakis, Bach, and others through percussion and marimba performance, recording, and arrangement, while also mentoring emerging artists.

Kim, Jiyeon

Jiyeon Kim received third prize at the 2022 World Marimba Competition.

Kim, Mi Youne

Mi Youne Kim appears among the main prize recipients of the Universal Marimba Competition in Belgium.

Kishida, Kazuko

Kazuko Kishida is a Japan-based marimba player, percussionist, and educator whose work includes solo performance, recording, teaching, workshops, and competition adjudication. She gave a marimba recital at Suntory Hall's small hall in 1987. Shobi University lists her as Kazuko Ogawa (Kishida), a part-time lecturer since April 2000, as of its April 2026 faculty roster.

Kite, Rebecca

Rebecca Kite is a US-based concert marimbist, percussionist, timpanist, writer, and educator. Her work includes international performance and teaching, two solo recordings, and books on mallet-percussion reading, marimba repertoire, and Keiko Abe.

Klimasara, Marta

Marta Klimasara is a marimba performer and served on the World Marimba Competition jury in 2008, 2012, 2022.

Klingelschmitt, Florian

Florian Klingelschmitt received Keiko Abe Honorary Prize at the 2022 World Marimba Competition.

Kolberg, Jasmin

Jasmin Kolberg is a German marimbist, percussionist, educator, arranger, and composer. She won third prize at the 1999 World Marimba Competition in Okaya, Japan, and performs internationally as a soloist and with the Jasmin Kolberg Trio.

Komori, Kunihiko

Kunihiko Komori is a marimbist whose work spans contemporary repertoire, concertos, chamber music, and cross-disciplinary collaboration. He is a part-time lecturer in marimba and percussion chamber music at Aichi University of the Arts (as of May 2026) and an Adams Musical Instruments artist.

Kondo, Ryoko

Ryoko Kondo appears among the main prize recipients of the Universal Marimba Competition in Belgium.

Kong, SeongYeon

SeongYeon Kong received joint first prize at the 2022 World Marimba Competition.

Kotoku, Keiko

Keiko Kotoku appears among the main prize recipients of the Universal Marimba Competition in Belgium.

KUME, Ayane

KUME Ayane is a marimbist and percussionist from Osaka who received the Doseikai Award on graduating from Tokyo University of the Arts. KUME performs with TOYSPARK and MONET marimba duo, as well as in orchestral, wind-band and chamber settings.

Kumor, Frank

Kuniko+Movses | Marimba & Violin Duo

Kusakari, Tomoko

Tomoko Kusakari is a Japan-based marimba player whose work includes performance, recording, commissioning new repertoire, and teaching. On July 18, 1977, she and Mutsuko Fujii premiered Akira Miyoshi's Etude Concertante for Two Marimbas. She also commissioned Seiji Yokoyama's Divertimento for Two Marimbas, Kiyukyoku, with Mutsuko Fujii.

KUTSUNA, Daichi

KUTSUNA Daichi is a marimbist and percussionist and the first-prize winner of the fourth Tokyo International Marimba Competition in 2021. Educated at Tokyo University of the Arts and its graduate school, KUTSUNA works on premieres and revivals of contemporary music, orchestral guest appearances, outreach with Trio Loop and teaching.

Kutsuno, Setsuko

Setsuko Kutsuno is a marimbist and percussionist who has been a member of the percussion section of Osaka Shion Wind Orchestra since 2025.

Lee, Ji-Hoon

Ji-Hoon Lee appears among the main prize recipients of the Universal Marimba Competition in Belgium.

Li, Ting-Ni

Ting-Ni Li appears among the main prize recipients of the Universal Marimba Competition in Belgium.

Liessens, Frederick

Lin, Chin-Cheng

Chin-Cheng Lin appears among the main prize recipients of the Universal Marimba Competition in Belgium.

Lin, Wei-Chen

Wei-Chen Lin is a marimba soloist and percussionist. He was listed among the Marimbafest Australia 2019 faculty and judges for its marimba competition.

Litzler, Claire

Claire Litzler appears among the main prize recipients of the Universal Marimba Competition in Belgium.

Locke, Joe

Lormans, Ramon

Loseto, Mauricio B.

Mauricio B. Loseto appears among the main prize recipients of the Universal Marimba Competition in Belgium.

Maddox-Vögele, Jeannine

Jeannine Maddox-Vögele is a Swiss percussionist and educator whose range extends from traditional Swiss drumming to contemporary marimba repertoire. She earned her teaching and concert diplomas at the Konservatorium Zürich, studied marimba intensively for a year with Keiko Abe in Tokyo, and continued her training in the United States with Alan Abel of the Philadelphia Orchestra and in a masterclass with Bob Becker of Nexus.

MAKINO, Misa

MAKINO Misa is a marimbist and percussionist who received the Graduate School Music Acanthus Award and the first Hirayama Ikuo Culture and Arts Award on completing graduate studies at Tokyo University of the Arts. A former contracted player with Kanagawa Philharmonic Orchestra, MAKINO works freelance and teaches at Shobi University and Seitoku University.

Mancinelli, Ivan

Manolova, Irena

Irena Manolova appears among the main prize recipients of the Universal Marimba Competition in Belgium.

Marimba Sol de Chiapas--KC's Mexican Marimba Ensemble

Marin, Daniel G.

Daniel G. Marin appears among the main prize recipients of the Universal Marimba Competition in Belgium.

Marques, Rodrigo Fernandes

Rodrigo Fernandes Marques appears among the main prize recipients of the Universal Marimba Competition in Belgium.

Martinez, Juan

Juan Martinez appears among the main prize recipients of the Universal Marimba Competition in Belgium.

Mascolo, Mario

Mario Mascolo appears among the main prize recipients of the Universal Marimba Competition in Belgium.

Maxey, Linda

Mazzoleni, Francesco

Francesco Mazzoleni appears among the main prize recipients of the Universal Marimba Competition in Belgium.

Mellaerts, Pieter

Pieter Mellaerts is Principal Percussionist at La Monnaie / De Munt. Educated at the Royal Conservatory of Antwerp, he works in orchestral performance, marimba solos and chamber music with Belgian Brass, and teaches percussion at LUCA School of Arts’ Campus Lemmens.

Mercep, Filip

Filip Mercep appears among the main prize recipients of the Universal Marimba Competition in Belgium.

Merola, PJ

Meza, Fernando

Michaud, Gabriel

French percussionist, marimbist and composer; first-prize winner at TROMP 2022, the 2025 World Marimba Competition and the 2026 ARD International Music Competition in percussion.

Mimura, Nanae

Nanae Mimura is a Japanese marimbist and vibraphonist whose repertoire spans classical, contemporary, pop and folk music. Her work includes international recitals, concerto commissions, recordings and teaching.

Moersch, William

William Moersch is a marimbist, orchestral percussionist, recording artist, and educator whose commissioning work has expanded the modern marimba repertoire. He taught at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign from 1998 to 2024 and is Professor Emeritus of Percussion. The Percussive Arts Society inducted him into its Hall of Fame in 2025.

Montealegre, Luis Camacho

Luis Camacho Montealegre appears among the main prize recipients of the Universal Marimba Competition in Belgium.

Moya, Conrado

Conrado Moya served on the jury of the 2016 International Marimba Festiva Congress and Competition in Bamberg.

Mscisz, Sławomir

Sławomir Mscisz served on the jury of the 2016 International Marimba Festiva Congress and Competition in Bamberg.

Murase, Hidemi

Hidemi Murase appears among the main prize recipients of the Universal Marimba Competition in Belgium.

Myćka, Katarzyna

Katarzyna Myćka is a Polish marimbist, chamber musician, and educator. She studied in Gdańsk, Stuttgart, and Salzburg, then won first and audience prizes at the 1995 Luxembourg International Percussion Competition and first prize at the 1996 World Marimba Competition in Stuttgart. She founded the International Katarzyna Myćka Marimba Academy in 2003. She is Professor of Percussion at Folkwang University of the Arts (as of July 15, 2026), a post she took up for the 2023/24 winter semester.

Nagano, Takako

Takako Nagano is a marimbist, pianist, melodica player, jazz singer, and educator. Building on her classical training, she has expanded her work into jazz, improvisation, original compositions, and singing while continuing to perform and teach piano and marimba.

Nagy, Gergely

Gergely Nagy is a Stuttgart-based marimbist, percussion educator, and ensemble director. He heads the percussion department at the Stuttgart Music School and directs its large percussion ensemble.

Nakamura, Isao

Isao Nakamura is a percussionist, marimba player, and educator known for premiering works dedicated to him by composers including Toshio Hosokawa and Klaus Huber. He taught at the University of Music Karlsruhe from 1992 to 2024 and is a guest professor at Kyoto City University of Arts and Aichi University of the Arts.

Nakura, Makoto

Makoto Nakura is a New York–based marimbist and educator. In 1994, he became the first marimbist to win the Young Concert Artists International Auditions, and in 2001 he founded the ISGM New Music Commissioning Fund. He has served as a Specially Invited Visiting Professor at Toho College of Music since the 2026 academic year.

Nunoya, Fumito

Fumito Nunoya is an Odate-born Japanese marimbist based in Germany, active as a soloist, recording artist, educator, and competition juror.

O'Meara, Rich

Rich O'Meara is a marimbist, percussionist, composer, and improviser based in Bethel, Connecticut. His marimba works include Restless and Wooden Music. He is also a founding member of Silent Orchestra, which creates and performs new scores for classic silent films.

Oda, Moyuru

Moyuru Oda is a Japanese marimbist, percussionist, music educator, and author. A graduate of the percussion program at Kunitachi College of Music, Oda was listed as a part-time lecturer at Tokyo Seitoku University in a 2025 publisher biography and leads the Ongaku de Te o Tsunagō Project, which develops performances with musicians with disabilities in Japan and abroad. Recordings include DIVERTIMENTI – Marimba Alive! vol.2 with Junko Sakimura and Naoki Kaneta. Publications include Dagakki I-Ro-Ha and the 2025 co-authored Rhythm Basics and Enjoyable Accompaniment.

Oetomo, Robert

Robert Oetomo is a marimba soloist and composer. He was listed among the Marimbafest Australia 2019 faculty and judges for its marimba competition.

Oh, Sangmin

Sangmin Oh received third prize at the 2025 World Marimba Competition.

Okamura, Ayami

Ayami Okamura is a Kyoto-born marimba and percussion performer, educator, arranger, and composer based in Detmold, Germany. She teaches percussion at Hochschule für Musik Detmold and works across solo performance, new commissions, arrangements, and composition.

Okubo, Hiroshi Chu

Hiroshi Chu Okubo is a percussionist, composer, and educator whose principal instruments include hand percussion, electronic percussion, and drums. He has performed and led workshops internationally and serves as head of the HCO MUSIC Group and an instructor at Tokyo School of Music Shibuya.

Omori, Kana

Kana Omori is a Japanese marimbist, percussionist, and educator. She teaches percussion at Osaka College of Music and performs internationally as a soloist and concerto soloist.

Ozaki, Rin

Marimbist and percussionist whose work includes contemporary-music premieres and teaching in Japan and the United States.

Palomeque, Roberto

Roberto Palomeque appears among the main prize recipients of the Universal Marimba Competition in Belgium.

Pawassar, Rüdiger

Rüdiger Pawassar served on the jury of the 2016 International Marimba Festiva Congress and Competition in Bamberg.

Percival, Richard

Richard Percival appears among the main prize recipients of the Universal Marimba Competition in Belgium.

PERCUSEANDO by Marcos Valc

Prosenjak, Nežka

Slovenian marimbist and classical percussionist based in Switzerland, active in solo, chamber and orchestral performance.

Raab, Patrick

Patrick Raab appears among the main prize recipients of the Universal Marimba Competition in Belgium.

Rambaldo, Charles Chiovato

Charles Chiovato Rambaldo appears among the main prize recipients of the Universal Marimba Competition in Belgium.

Rappe, Kyle

Kyle Rappe appears among the main prize recipients of the Universal Marimba Competition in Belgium.

Rodriguez, Diego Casado

Diego Casado Rodriguez received second prize at the 2022 World Marimba Competition.

Rubino, Simone

Simone Rubino appears among the main prize recipients of the Universal Marimba Competition in Belgium.

Sadlo, Peter

Safri Duo

Saito, Mie

Mie Saito is a Japanese percussionist and marimbist and a first-prize winner at the 1993 Japan Wind and Percussion Competition. A freelance performer as of June 2025; percussion instructor for the 2024 and 2025 Kunitachi Open College scheduled programs; judge for the 42nd Percussion Newcomers Concerts fiscal 2026 program.

Saito, Taiko

Berlin-based marimba and vibraphone player and composer.

Sakaguchi, Ririko

Ririko Sakaguchi is a marimba and percussion player from Ina, Saitama. She graduated from Tokyo College of Music and completed its master's program, and has received prizes at the Italy Percussion Competition, IPEA International Percussion Competition, KOBE International Music Competition, and Tokyo College of Music Competition. She performs and teaches in solo, ensemble, wind-band, and orchestral settings.

Sakimura, Junko

Junko Sakimura is a Japan-based marimba and cimbalom player whose work includes performances with the New Japan Philharmonic and the Saito Kinen Orchestra under Seiji Ozawa, an appearance on BS Japan's Ongaku Kosaten, recordings, and participation in international cimbalom congresses.

Sammut, Eric

Eric Sammut is a marimba performer and served on the World Marimba Competition jury in 2005, 2022.

Schorer, Jochen

Jochen Schorer is a percussionist listed on the jury of the 2018 Marimba Festiva competition.

Sebastian, Perez

Perez Sebastian appears among the main prize recipients of the Universal Marimba Competition in Belgium.

Séjourné, Emmanuel

Emmanuel Séjourné is a French composer, percussionist, and educator whose work ranges from classical to improvised music. His Concerto for Marimba and String Orchestra, commissioned and premiered by Bogdan Bácanu, has become a widely performed part of the marimba repertoire. He is head teacher of percussion at the Strasbourg Superior Academy of Music and Arts and associate professor at HEMU Lausanne (as of July 22, 2026). As a performer, he has premiered more than 100 works.

Sekizawa, Mayumi

Mayumi Sekizawa appears among the main prize recipients of the Universal Marimba Competition in Belgium.

Sharaevskiy, Rostislav

Rostislav Sharaevskiy appears among the main prize recipients of the Universal Marimba Competition in Belgium.

Shelton, Mark

Shigeno, Hiromi

Hiromi Shigeno appears among the main prize recipients of the Universal Marimba Competition in Belgium.

Shim, Sun-Min

Sun-Min Shim is a marimba performer and served on the World Marimba Competition jury in 2022.

Sice, Robert van

Robert van Sice is a marimbist and percussion educator who has premiered more than 100 works for marimba. Four major works written for him are Peter Klatzow's Dances of Earth and Fire, Alejandro Viñao's Estudios de Frontera, Martin Bresnick's Grace, and James Wood's Spirit Festival with Lamentations. He is Lecturer in Percussion at Yale, where he joined the faculty in 1997, and also teaches at the Curtis Institute of Music (as of July 15, 2026). He retired from the Peabody Institute in May 2024 after more than 20 years there.

Slazak, Elwira

Elwira Slazak appears among the main prize recipients of the Universal Marimba Competition in Belgium.

Smith, J.B.

J. B. Smith is a percussionist, composer, educator, and conductor based in Australia. He is professor emeritus of music and former coordinator of percussion studies at Arizona State University, where he directed the Contemporary Percussion Ensemble.

Staffelbach, Luca

Percussionist, composer and arranger; a founding member of TrioColores.

Stensgaard, Kai

Kai Stensgaard is a Danish marimbist, composer, and educator known for solo performance and six-mallet technique. His official site documents international touring, recordings, original compositions and arrangements, a six-mallet method book, and the concerto Concierto Mexicano.

Stevens, Leigh Howard

Leigh Howard Stevens is a marimbist, educator, recording artist, instrument designer, and the founder of Malletech. He developed an influential approach to four-mallet playing associated with the Stevens grip and one-handed rolls. His Method of Movement for Marimba is widely used in percussion education. As of July 22, 2026, Malletech credited him with nine United States patents for keyboard-percussion design.

Stoltzman, Mika

Mika Stoltzman is a marimbist from Amakusa, Kumamoto, based in Boston. Her official biography documents performances at Carnegie Hall, PASIC, the Blue Note, international jazz and chamber-music festivals, and appearances as a soloist with orchestras in Japan, Europe, and the Americas. Her recordings include an arrangement and performance of Steve Reich's Tokyo/Vermont Counterpoint, projects with Steve Gadd, and Duo Cantando with clarinetist Richard Stoltzman. Chick Corea composed works for her, including a marimba version of his Piano Concerto No. 1, which she premiered with the Xalapa Symphony Orchestra.

Stout, Gordon

Gordon Stout is a marimbist, percussionist, composer, and educator. His works include Two Mexican Dances for Marimba. He is Professor Emeritus of Music Performance at Ithaca College, specializing in percussion, marimba, and composition (as of July 15, 2026); he joined the college in 1980. Stout earned bachelor's and master's degrees and the Performers Certificate from the Eastman School of Music, where he studied percussion with James Salmon and John Beck and composition with Joseph Schwantner, Samuel Adler, and Warren Benson.

Stoyanov, Svet

Suzuki, Akiko

Akiko Suzuki, also identified in Japanese sources as 鈴木明子, is a marimbist and teacher. Her marimba students include Naoko Takada, Junko Sakimura, Memmi Ochi, Nanae Mimura, and Mie Saito. A 2020 City of Komae publication documented her coaching the community music club Mallet and performing in its anniversary concert.

Swist, Christopher

Szarek, Radek

Radek Szarek served on the jury of the 2016 International Marimba Festiva Congress and Competition in Bamberg.

Takada, Naoko

Naoko Takada is a Los Angeles-based marimbist and educator. She won first prize at the 2002 Young Concert Artists International Auditions and received the S&R Washington Award in 2006. A Yamaha Performing Artist, she is active as both a performer and teacher.

Takafuji, Maki

Maki Takafuji is a marimbist listed on the jury of the 2018 Marimba Festiva competition.

Takei, Chiharu

Marimbist from Tokyo who studied at Toho Gakuen and the Zurich University of the Arts.

Taneda, Mao

Mao Taneda is a marimbist scheduled to perform as soloist in Puts’s Marimba Concerto at Carta da Musica’s sixth concert on April 11, 2027.

Tchiki Duo

Timberline Players

Tomita, Honoka

Honoka Tomita began piano at age three and marimba at age six. She received first prize at the 26th Japan Classical Music Competition, an Excellence Award and the Kobe Cultural Foundation Award at the 22nd KOBE International Music Competition, and second prize at the 20th Yangtze River Cup International Music Competition. She studied percussion and marimba with Shinichi Ueno, Itaru Akuhara, Hisae Hirako, and Junko Sakimura and graduated from Kunitachi College of Music.

Trigg, William

Tsai, Wen Chi

Wen Chi Tsai appears among the main prize recipients of the Universal Marimba Competition in Belgium.

Tsukagoshi, Noriko

Noriko Tsukagoshi appears among the main prize recipients of the Universal Marimba Competition in Belgium.

Tyson, Blake

Uchiyama, Emiko

Emiko Uchiyama appears among the main prize recipients of the Universal Marimba Competition in Belgium.

Udow, Michael

Percussionist, composer and University of Michigan emeritus professor; former principal percussionist of the Santa Fe Opera.

Vartan, Lynn

Lynn Vartan is a marimba soloist and percussionist. She was listed among the Marimbafest Australia 2019 faculty and judges for its marimba competition.

Vichev, Alexander

Alexander Vichev appears among the main prize recipients of the Universal Marimba Competition in Belgium.

Vladimir, Petrov

Petrov Vladimir appears among the main prize recipients of the Universal Marimba Competition in Belgium.

WADA, Mitsuyo

WADA Mitsuyo is a percussionist with Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra, a third-prize percussion winner at the Japan Wind and Percussion Competition, and a third-prize winner at Kyougaku V as a marimba duo with Yoko Ishizaki. WADA also works with Tokyo Sinfonietta and teaches at university level.

Walker, James

Whettam, Andrew

Wiggins, Tracy

Wong, Ho Yin

Ho Yin Wong appears among the main prize recipients of the Universal Marimba Competition in Belgium.

Wu, Hsuan

Hsuan Wu appears among the main prize recipients of the Universal Marimba Competition in Belgium.

Wu, She-e

She-e Wu is a percussionist, marimbist, composer, and educator. She has performed internationally as a soloist, commissioned and premiered new percussion works, and recorded solo and chamber repertoire including the first three Bach cello suites on marimba. Her compositions include Blue Identity, K-PAX, UP!, and What the Sun Would Say to the Sky. She is Associate Professor of Music and head of the percussion program at Northwestern University (as of July 15, 2026).

Xia, Yuan

Chinese percussionist and marimba player; winner of the 2024 TROMP competition and second-prize and audience-award winner at the 2026 ARD International Music Competition.

Yamada, Azusa

Tokyo-based marimba and vibraphone player. She studied in the College Diploma course at Toho Gakuen School of Music and with Keiko Abe.

Yamamoto, Akiko

Akiko Yamamoto is a marimba and percussion player who won first prize in the percussion division of the 19th Japan Wind and Percussion Competition in 2002.

Yang, Hedi

Marimbist and percussionist from China; a recipient of the 2025 Fritz-Gerber-Award.

Yoshioka, Takayoshi

Takayoshi Yoshioka is a Japanese marimbist, percussionist, composer, and educator. His activities include performing his own marimba concertos, composing and publishing works, directing the Super Marimba Project, performing with Marimba Duo Wings, and teaching marimba.

Yuan, Ziyue

Ziyue Yuan appears among the main prize recipients of the Universal Marimba Competition in Belgium.

Yuth, Cañizales

Cañizales Yuth appears among the main prize recipients of the Universal Marimba Competition in Belgium.

Zakarian, Silvie

Zaragosa, Miguel Gonzales

Miguel Gonzales Zaragosa appears among the main prize recipients of the Universal Marimba Competition in Belgium.

Zeltsman, Nancy

Nancy Zeltsman is a Boston-based marimbist and educator known for solo and chamber performance, commissioning new repertoire, recording, and teaching. She has taught at Boston Conservatory at Berklee and Berklee College of Music since 1993, and was inducted into the Percussive Arts Society Hall of Fame in 2022.

Zhang, Boyang

Boyang Zhang received second prize, Audience Award, Li Biao Prize, and Soma Dance Prize at the 2025 World Marimba Competition.

Zivkovic, Nebojsa Jovan

Nebojsa Jovan Zivkovic is a Serbian composer and marimba and percussion concert artist. He earned master's degrees in composition, music theory, and percussion in Mannheim and Stuttgart and has developed parallel careers as composer and performer. His catalog includes solo and ensemble percussion music, two marimba concertos, and works for chamber ensemble, orchestra, voice, and cello.