Published: February 12, 2008 07:34 am            

OSU percussion ensemble begins spring season

The Oklahoma State University percussion ensemble will present its first concert of the spring semester at 8 p.m. Tuesday in the Seretean Center for the Performing Arts.

The ensemble is under the direction of Professor Wayne Bovenschen and assistants Stuart Langsam and Kenny Martin.

The ensemble will open with “Mas Fuerte” by former OSU faculty composer Stephen Rush. The next number will feature OSU junior Ryan Winters on “Concerto for Timpani and Percussion Ensemble” by John Beck, retiring percussion professor at the Eastman School of Music. The group will close with David Hollinden’s “Release.”

This concert will also feature guest marimba artist Nancy Zeltsman who will perform four solo works for marimba. She is a leading marimba performer, recording artist, teacher, author and festival director. She has presented numerous recitals and marimba master classes across the United States as well as in Europe, Japan and Mexico.

Her recordings include three solo marimba CDs, “Sweet Song” (2005), “See Ya Thursday” (1999) and “Woodcuts” (1993); a marimba CD with Jack Van Geem, “Pedro and Olga Learn to Dance” (2004); and three CDs with Marimolin. During their 11 years together (1985-1996), the marimba and violin duo premiered nearly 80 pieces.

In addition, Zeltsman has premiered dozens of marimba solos and mixed chamber works involving marimba. In 2005, she performed Michael Tilson Thomas’ “Island Music” as one of two featured marimbists with percussionists of the San Francisco Symphony and also with percussionists of the New World Symphony.

In the same year, she premiered William Thomas McKinley’s marimba concerto “Childhood Memories” with Boston Modern Orchestra Project.

Zeltsman is chairman of the percussion department at The Boston Conservatory and an associate professor at Berklee College of Music. She has taught marimba at both institutions since 1993 in positions that were created for her. She is founder and artistic director of Zeltsman Marimba Festival Inc., an annual two-week summer event.

She was a judge for the International Marimba Competition for Students in Paris, France, in 2003 and the Belgium International Marimba Competition in 2001 and was one of 12 international players featured at The World Marimba Festival in Osaka, Japan, in 1998.

Her marimba method, “Four Mallet Marimba Playing: A Musical Approach for All Levels,” is published by Hal Leonard Corp.

Tickets to the concert are $8 for adults and $5 for students and seniors and are available at the door.

        

• Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.