Marimba and xylophone historian David Harvey and solo marimbist Matthew Coley and his organization Heartland Marimba will present a lecture performance on the major contributions the state of Pennsylvania, in particular the southeast region, has provided for the development of the classical marimba idiom. Clair Omar Musser, The International Marimba Symphony Orchestra, Reg Kehoe and His Marimba Queens, Dorothy Yoder, and the Lancaster Marimba Ensemble are just some of the key figures discussed.
The program showcases a unique, colorful, and remarkable contribution that a region of Pennsylvania gave to classical music. Thousands of performers and audiences enjoy the classical marimba art form today due to the evolution that happened in the 1920s–1950s, and much of it originated from PA. This is something that is largely unknown and we are beginning to educate people more with programs like this, the Musser Marimba Festival (Oct. 14-18, 2025, Manheim, PA), and other collaborations.
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