Laurence Kaptain Vice-Provost for Faculty Programs
and Academic Quality at UMKC is widely heard as a percussionist, marimba
soloist, and cimbalom (the Hungarian dulcimer) artist. In 1990-02, he
performed with the Montreal Symphony in Carnegie Hall, the San Antonio,
Boston, Rochester, and St. Louis Symphonies, the Aspen Music Festival
Chamber, St. Paul Chamber, Tanglewood Festival, Minnesota and
Philadelphia Orchestras, and the Summit Brass. He also has performed and
recorded with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, under Sir Georg Solti as
well as Neeme Järvi. He has recorded for Deutsche Grammophon,
London/Decca, Chandos, RCA, Teldec, and HWP.
A former Fulbright
Scholar to Mexico, Kaptain is the author of "The Wood That Sings:" The
Marimba in Chiapas, Mexico, which has been published in Mexico in
Spanish translation, and in English by HoneyRock. As a solo marimba
artist, Kaptain has received critical acclaim for his seven concert
tours of Latin America.
A native of Elgin, Illinois, he received his
early percussion training from George McNabney, Duane Thamm, and the
late James Lane. A former Fulbright Scholar to Mexico, he holds the
Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Michigan where he
studied with Michael Udow and Charles Owen. His bachelors and masters
degrees are from Ball State University and the University of Miami where
he studied with Dr. Erwin Mueller and Fred Wickstrom. He has taught
percussion at the University of Michigan, Drake University, the
University of Wisconsin-Madison, the Oberlin Conservatory, and Stephen
F. Austin State University. Kaptain is also presently professor of percussion
at the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory of Music, where
he was awarded the 1994 Kauffman Excellence in Teaching Award. He is a
National Performing Artist for the YAMAHA Corporation of America.
John Currey, an original cast member of Sticks of
Thunder, holds a master’s degree in percussion performance from the
Conservatory of Music at UMKC, where he currently teaches for the
Conservatory's Community Music & Dance Academy. A freelance
percussionist and teacher, John plays extra timpani and percussion with
the Kansas City Symphony, has performed with the Czech National
Orchestra, the Chico Symphony, and served two years as Principal
Timpanist for the Western Slope Music Festival in Crested Butte,
Colorado, where he toured with the Kansas City Brass. The Founder and
Artistic Director of the Multi-cultural percussion ensemble, Echoes of
Africa, John’s hand drumming is featured with the Kansas City
Friends of Alvin Ailey, and earned him a commission to co-write music
for the Wylliams/Henry Dance Company. The Music Director and an arranger
for Marimba Yajalón—an ensemble specializing in recreating
the Marimba traditions of Mexico and Guatemala--John has toured
extensively through-out the United States, Mexico, and Western Europe,
has taught percussion at Graceland College in Lamoni, Iowa, Calvary
Bible College, Pittsburg State University, and as an Adjunct Assistant
Professor at UMKC. His marimba arrangements are published by MUSICA
JOROCU.
James Schank received a
bachelor’s degree from Missouri Western State College in 1986, a
master’s degree in percussion performance from Drake University in
1988, and a master’s degree in conducting from the University of
Missouri Kansas City in 1996. James has been a member of Marimba
Yajalón since1993. He is a member of the St. Joseph Symphony, and
has performed with the Des Moines and Kansas City Symphony. He
previously taught percussion at Simpson College and Drake University,
both in Iowa, and Kansas City, Kansas Community College. James is an
active teacher/performer in the Kansas City area.
Dr. James Snell has performed as a percussionist
with the Kansas City Symphony, the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, the Dallas
Opera, the San Antonio Symphony Orchestra, the New Mexico Symphony
Orchestra, and the Missouri Chamber Orchestra. He has performed as a
timpanist with the Kansas City Symphony, the Lyric Opera of Kansas City,
the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra and Missouri Chamber Orchestra. He has
recorded with the New Mexico and Dallas Symphonies as well as the Dallas
Wind Symphony. He received his Bachelor of Music degree in Percussion
Performance from the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana, the
Master of Music degree in Percussion Performance from Southern Methodist
University and the Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of
Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory of Music. Dr. Snell has served on the
faculty of the Department of Music at the University of New Mexico in
Albuquerque and currently serves as Assistant Professor of Percussion at
the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory of Music. Dr. Snell
maintains an active schedule as a free-lance timpanist and percussionist
and is also a member of Marimba Yajalón, an ethnic marimba
ensemble, performing the music of Mexico nationally and
internationally.
James Clanton holds a
Bachelor's degree in music education from Oklahoma City University,
where he graduated with honors. He has served as principal percussionist
with the Canterbury Choral Society, the Oklahoma Opera and Musical
Theater Company, the OCU Wind Symphony, Orchestra, and has also
performed with the Oklahoma City Philharmonic. Jim is currently working
on his Master's degree in percussion performance at the University of
Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory of Music.
John Currey, Music
Director
Marimba Yajalon
P. O. Box 22536
Kansas City,
Missouri 64113-0536
816-333-6874
curreyj@umkc.edu
Attending
Marimba Yajalón’s concert for the historic Mendelssohn Club
Concert Series, the music critic for the Rockford Register Star wrote,
"...a breathtaking performance...when they pick up those mallets
and play their south Mexican marimba, the members of Marimba
Yajalón have true south-of-the-border ritmo." After living
in Chiapas, Mexico and researching the Chiapan Marimba as a Fulbright
Scholar, group Founder and Artistic Director Laurence Kaptain formed a
U.S.-based group of North American percussionists to explore and
recreate the music of that region. Thus, in 1988 Marimba Yajalón
was formed to authentically replicate the performance practice and
spirit of the marimba heard throughout Mesoamerica. A professional
resident ensemble at the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory
of Music, Marimba Yajalón maintains an active international
schedule of performances, recordings, and multi-cultural workshops and
presentations. So authentic is their interpretation and approach that
they have toured Mexico on numerous occasions as guests of the Mexican
Government, were featured in a special report on
National Public Radio’s Morning Edition, had a cameo appearance on ABC’s Good
Morning America, and have performed at three International Festivals of
the Marimba—all accomplishments that have brought the music of the
Mexican marimba to millions of listeners, and furthered Marimba
Yajalón's reputation as North America's premiere professional
Mexican marimba ensemble. Marimba Yajalón has released three
compact disc recordings: Huapango, Chiapas!, and Echoes of Chiapas! 