Musser Marimba Festival Orchestra Concert

The culmination of a week celebrating Musser and marimbas will be the Musser Marimba Festival Orchestra Concert. Composed of 60 performers, the orchestra is reminiscent of Musser’s large scale orchestras, where professional musicians and hobbyists came together to perform. Participating in a marimba orchestra of this size is a rare opportunity, with participants  coming from California, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Wisconsin. The orchestra will perform some of Musser’s compositions and arrangements in addition to a variety of music showcasing the marimba’s versatility as an instrument. The conductor of the orchestra, Dr. Matthew Coley, has this to say about the concert, “We are making history in Manheim in honor of the incredible events, stories, and momentum Musser created with the marimba orchestras of the 1930s, 40s, and 50s, providing us with a rich start to the classical marimba art form. The music we are performing is looking back with respect for these historical achievements and looking forward towards a resonant future for marimba performance!” Jenni Brandon is associate conductor of the orchestra and composer of a piece on the program called “Badwater Basin.” The concert will be held on Saturday, Oct. 18 at 7:30pm at the Manheim Central Middle School, 261 White Oak Rd., Manheim. Tickets can be purchased prior to the concert for $33 regular admission and $20 for students and seniors at https://www.heartlandmarimba.com/events. Tickets can also be purchased at the door with cash for $30 regular admission and $18 for students and seniors.