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OUR 2021 FACULTY

Introducing a new faculty family for Marimbafest 2021

DR MATTHEW LAU

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Faculty Artist*  (Hong Kong)

International Percussion Soloist and Educator

Matthew Lau is a renowned international soloist with a passion for commissioning new music from composers. Matthew's performances have seen him present in Australia, Argentina, Korea, Japan Russia, USA and more. Matthew continues to push the boundaries of contemporary percussion music and is an advocate for LGBTQIA+ representation. Matthew is a Marimba One Premier Artist, has a signature line of mallets with Elite Mallets and endorses Black Swamp Percussion. Matthew is the co-founder of contemporary ensemble The Up:Strike Project.

*Due to COVID-19 regulations, Dr Matthew Lau will be presenting remotely during Marimbafest Week.

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STEPHEN HALL

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Faculty Artist* (USA)

Co-Founder and Performer, Spectrum Ensemble

A first prize winner in the PAS International Marimba Competition and DCI Individual and Ensemble Competition, Stephen Hall is co-founder of Spectrum Ensemble, promoting LGBTQIA+ representation and visibility in music, building community among Queer artists and other social justice work. Stephen's works and arrangements have been featured on concerts at Northwestern University and San Francisco Conservatory, Southern California Marimba, the ChamberQUEER Festival, the Church of the Friendly Ghost New Music festival, Modern Marimba, the Oh My Ears New Music Festival, the Lift Music Fund, and the Kontrapunktus Chamber Orchestra.

*Due to COVID-19 regulations, Stephen Hall will be presenting remotely during Marimbafest Week.

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ROBERT OETOMO

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Faculty Artist / Composer-in-Residence  (NSW)

International Marimba Soloist and Composer

Robert Oetomo is a renowned Australian marimba soloist and composer whose artistic practice sees him performing around the world on a regular basis. His compositions are some of the most popular works in the marimba repertory. Robert is a Marimba One Premier Artist, has a signature line of mallets with Encore Mallets Inc. and endorses Sabian Cymbals. Robert's works are published by Edition Svitzer and Tapspace.

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JOSHUA WEBSTER

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Faculty Artist  (WA)

Founder and Performer of Kaboom Percussion

As a co-founder of popular percussion duo Kaboom Percussion who present hundreds of shows and workshops annually, Joshua Webster has performed and presented workshops across Australia, China, India, the US, Canada, Italy, Azerbaijan, Hungary and New Zealand, and has even played for The Queen as a musician, composer, arranger and teacher. Joshua has also studied the Hungarian cimbalom over numerous trips to Hungary and the Netherlands with leading performers Jenő Lisztes, Giani Lincan, Miklós Lukács, Kálmán Balogh, Jenő Sörös, Sándor Kuti, and Viktória Herencsár.

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BRIAN MALONEY

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Faculty Artist  (WA)

Principal Percussionist at West Australian Symphony Orchestra / Chair of Percussion, UWA Conservatorium of Music

Hailed as a “virtuosic” performer by the Boston Musical Intelligencer, Brian was an active member of Boston's classical music scene for a number of years, where he played with the Boston Philharmonic and the Boston Pops Orchestra and has also performed with orchestras around the world including the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, the Oregon Symphony and the New World Symphony. Brian is currently the Principal Percussionist at WASO and the Chair of Percussion at the UWA Conservatorium of Music.

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ADAM TAN

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Festival Director  (Australia)

Executive Director for Marimbafest Australia

Adam Tan is a percussionist, composer and educator from Perth, Western Australia. He is the host and creator of the popular YouTube show about percussion, THE STUDIO. Adam is regularly seen performing, educating and serving as faculty around the world on a regular basis. Adam is the director and founder of Marimbafest Australia. Adam's compositions are published by Edition Svitzer.

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KANA OMORI

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Faculty Artist*  (Japan)

International Marimba Virtuoso Soloist

Kana Omori is an international marimba soloist from Kyoto, Japan. A First Prize and Absolute Prize winner of PAS Italy, Kana frequently performs and presents classes around the world, including Germany, Switzerland, France, Italy and the USA. Kana is an ADAMS marimba artist and has her own line of mallets with Encore Mallets Inc and endorses Sabian Cymbals. Kana's arrangements are published by Edition Svitzer.

*Due to COVID-19 regulations, Kana Omori will be presenting remotely during Marimbafest Week.

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JAIME ESPOSITO

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Faculty Artist* (USA)

Co-Founder and Performer, Spectrum Ensemble

Jaime Esposito is a performer and educator based out of Dallas, Texas. Jaime co-founded Spectrum Ensemble, a non-profit organization dedicated to highlighting talented LGBTQIA+ composers and performers. The ensemble commissions and performs new music by Queer composers, raises funds for LGBTQIA+ causes, and advocates for marginalized members of the music community. Jaime has been an artist with the World Percussion Group, Heartland Marimba, International Lyric Academy, and frequently plays with the Las Colinas Symphony Orchestra, Texarkana Symphony, Allen Symphony, Abilene Philharmonic, DFW Brass, and Dallas Chamber Winds.

*Due to COVID-19 regulations, Jaime Esposito will be presenting remotely during Marimbafest Week.

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CATHERINE BETTS

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Faculty Artist  (WA)

Founder and Performer of Kaboom Percussion

As one of the co-founders of popular percussion duo Kaboom Percussion who present hundreds of shows annually, Catherine Betts is a regularly touring percussionist who has played across Europe, China, Canada, the USA and India with the Australian Youth Orchestra and Tetrafide Percussion and is also a casual musician with the West Australian Philharmonic Orchestra, West Australian Symphony Orchestra and Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra.

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PAUL TANNER

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Faculty Artist  (WA)

Percussion Faculty at Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts

Paul Tanner is a renowned Australian percussionist who has travelled across the world as a soloist, ensemble and orchestral musician. Formerly Principal Percussionist of West Australian Symphony Orchestra, Paul is now a DMA candidate and percussion faculty at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts and UWA Conservatorium of Music.

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CARISSA SOARES

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General Manager  (Australia)

General Manager for Marimbafest Australia

Carissa Soares is a percussionist from Perth, Western Australia. A current student of the University of Western Australia, Carissa was the 1st Prize winner of Marimbafest 2019's Marimba Competition and also received the people's choice award that year. Carissa is now a General Manager at Marimbafest Australia.

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