Makoto Nakura’s Wood and Forest Album has been released. Head over to the following places to purchase this album filled with marimba and vibraphone music:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Wood-Forest-Makoto-Nakura/dp/B0086VZ852

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/wood-and-forest/id568395763

CDBaby: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/makotonakura2

My personal favorite is the Duo for Viola and Vibraphone. This three movement work really blends the beauty of the vibraphone and the viola. Both instruments are played in a very relaxing style that invokes visions of a sitting by the fire in a northern woods cabin. This was also the first recording of the world’s largest vibraphone. I don’t have the details on how large it is exactly but I will try and find out.

It was great to see this entire project fully funded on Kickstarter. For more information and the latest news visit the Kickstarter page.

The Centennial High School Marimba Choir will be performing next Thursday 12/20/2012 at Northtown Mall at 10am and 12:30am in the Best Buy court. For more information view the following link:

http://www.northtown-mall.com/go/mallevents.cfm

or visit “NorthtownMallMN” on Facebook.

There are many percussion, marimba + voice events happening in Boston in November and December.

Spotlight Series: solo concert, marimba + voice

Sunday, Nov 18 at 3pm

See Brian Calhoon‘s unique repertoire for marimba, vibraphone, and voice (in one player), including the premiere of a commission by Derek Tywoniuk.

Presented by Juventas New Music Ensemble.

Davis Square Theatre

255 Elm Street (downstairs), Somerville, MA

free admission | suggested donation $10

BPeG at Jeremy Barnett’s DMA recital

Friday, Dec 7 at 8:30pm

Including the premiere of “Dreams of Progress”, a BPeG commission by Jeremy Barnett featuring the composer as MalletKAT/vibraphone soloist with percussion quartet (performed by Boston Percussion Group).

New England Conservatory – Brown Hall

290 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA

free admission

Juventas New Music Ensemble presents “Expérience”

Saturday, Dec 8 at 7pm – Museum of Modern Renaissance

Sunday, Dec 9 at 3pm – Center Makor

Experience new music with narrator, a chamber opera, and an excerpt of Peter Lane’s new ballet written for Juventas New Music Ensemble.

Tickets and details here.

For more information visit, the following websites. www.briancalhoon.com, www.bostonpercussiongroup.com

The Universal Marimba Competition and Festival will be held in Belgium July 18-27, 2013. Their Facebook page and website have all of the details including the 50,000 Euro prize package for the winner.

Marimba One has launched a new tool on their website called “The Configurator”. This gives Marimba One buyers the ability to see what choices are available before actually making the purchase.

You can now select the frame, octave range, resonator type, and wood type (Traditional, Enhanced or Premium) and see a live preview of what that will look like.

Not only does this tool allow you to understand the different options, you can see the cost associated with those choices. Being able to have this information up front is a great feature of the Marimba One website.

There is still time to register for the Santa Fe Marimba Festival this June 6th-9th. The amazing lineup of marimbists include: Barry Olsen, Dane Richeson, Ludwig Albert, Ivana Bilic, Kevin Bobo, Puis Cheung, Chin Cheng Lin, Nanae Mimura, Valerie Dee Naranjo, Victor Mendoza and Gordon Stout.

For more information and registration information please visit: http://www.santafemarimbafestival.org

The Italy Percussion Competition is set for September 5-12, 2012 at Villa Nazareth” – FERMO (Italy). For more information about the event head over to their Facebook page or the event website.

The deadline for application is the end of this month (May 31st) so be sure to get your applications in soon.

The 22nd annual Concordia College Day of Percussion will be held on March 31, 2012. This year’s featured artists include the Sauk Rapids-Rice High School Marimba Choir, Pius Cheung, David Stanoch, and the Omaha Percussion Ensemble. There is no charge for the event and it starts at 8am and runs until 5:30pm.

For more information please visit the Concordia College Day of Percussion website.

The Santa Fe Marimba Festival is set for June 6-9, 2012. Currently the artist list includes Gordon Stout, David Friedman, Dave Samuels, Ludwig Albert, Ivana Billic, Kevin Bobo, Pius Cheung, Chi Cheng Lin, Nanae Mimra, and Valerie Dee Naranjo.

Many of these marimbists were at the Marimba 2010 Festival and Conference so it would be a great opportunity to see many of them again. For more information on registering for the event, visit their website or contact Artistic Director Sam Lunt at “sam@santafemarimbafestival.org”.

Dame Evelyne Glennie is performing in St. Paul on November 13th at the House of Hope Presbyterian Church. The concert starts at 2pm and is free and open to the public.