Projects

Marimba & Ensemble / Orchestra-Concerts

Julie Spencer performs as a soloist her concert pieces for marimba and percussion ensembles, various chamber music ensemble formations or orchestra. Her first concert for marimba and orchestra, “Waterfalls”, was premiered in June 2006 by members of the Warsaw Radio Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Piotr Dabrowski at the international festival “Crossdrumming 2006”.

Solo Marimba Concerts

(CD „Ask” and CD „Ecstatic Sunlight)

Julie Spencer is an internationally renowned virtuoso and a unique composer for the marimba. She has developed her own playing technique, which allows for a special flexibility of the mallets. She is creating a demanding repertoire that transposes the piano’s diversity of expressive possibilities onto the marimba. Her compositional style is at the same time tonal and atonal, sometimes postminimalistic, sometimes neo-classicist, partly jazz inspired, with world music influences of cultures from Asia, India, Latin America, and Africa.

“Julie Spencer represents and advocates all that constitutes inspired, musical excellence and exquisite performances.”

Cloyd Duff

Guest Composer / Commissions

Julie Spencer composes commissions for soloists, ensembles, cultural institutions and festivals. Her biggest five movement work for five percussionists, “Soulhouse”, was composed, for instance, for a fellowship of the National Endowment for the Arts. Among others, her commissions include:

• “Out of the Stillness”, 16 sound collages to the vision pictures of Hildegard von Bingen, commissioned by the city of Bingen, Germany 2006.
• “Wild Heron” & “Bamboo Leaf” for Solo Marimba, commissioned by Marumi Akita, Tokyo, 2005
• “Ecstatic Sunlight On The Mountain Snow” for Marimba and Percussion ensemble, for bluemallet, Yuya Misoo, Tokyo, 2004
• “Waterfalls”, Concerto for Marimba and six percussionists, commissioned by the Japan Percussion Society, 2003
• “White Whales” for Trombone & Marimba, commissioned by Shiori Tanaka, 2002
• “Kassandra” for mixed Choir, commissioned by the Oregon Repertory Singers, Portland, USA, 2001
• “At The Water’s Edge”, Suite in three movements for the Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestra Percussion Ensemble, USA, 2000
• “The Emperor’s New Clothes” for Solo Marimba, commissioned by Eric Middleton, USA, 2000
• “Tree Song” for Marimba & Flute, commissioned by Vicki P. Jenks, USA, 1999
• “Tranquility” for Solo Vibraphone, commissioned by Kurt Gartner, USA, 1997
• “Elim” for Solo Marimba, commissioned by Emil Richards, USA, 1994

Guest instructor / Workshops / Masterclasses

Julie Spencer teaches seminars, masterclasses and workshops on her playing technique and her instrument, the marimba, at music schools, conservatories and universities in music departments, music academies or culture centres.

Among the institutions, that have invited her for such events are:

• USA: University of Michigan • Eastern Illinois University • University of Valparaiso, Indiana • Western Washington University • University of Arizona • Ball State University • Crane School of Music New York • California State University Northridge • California State University Fresno • California Institute of the Arts • University of Colorado, Eastern Washington University, Eastern Pennsylvania University, Iowa State University, Illinois State University • University of Illinois, Indianapolis • Jordan Conservatory Butler University • Indiana State University • Interlochen Music Academy • Kennesaw State College • University of Louisiana • Lewis & Clark College • Michigan State University • Northern Illinois University, University of North Texas, Ohio State University, San Jose State University, Wisconsin University • Lawrence Conservatory of Music • Eastman Conservatory of Music • Berklee College of Music • Princeton University • Percussive Arts Society International Conventions
• Canada: University of Toronto • University of Ontario • Laurentian University at Sudbury
• Japan: Kunitachi College of Music, Tokyo
• France: Percussion Academy of Saint Sauve
• Poland: Crossdrumming Festival, Warsaw