Nancy Zeltsman
Encyclopedia
International Marimba
Soloist, Nancy Zeltsman (b.1958) has taught at the Boston Conservatory and Berklee College of Music since 1993.
In 1976, Zeltsman studied with Vic Firth at New England Conservatory of Music
. Following her sophomore year (1978), she was a percussion fellow at Tanglewood
. She took a sabbatical and returned to NEC in 1980 to continue her studies, graduating with a Bachelor of Music (percussion performance) in 1982. She then studied jazz improvisation with Dave Samuels
for several years.
She performed in a duo with violinist Sharan Leventhal in the mid 1980s through to the mid 1990s, and another duo with Janis Potter after the former duo dissolved. She occasionally performs with Jack Van Geem, and a recording she made with him was released in 1994.
In 1993, she was offered a Chair at the Boston Conservatory
and Berklee College of Music
, where she teaches the marimba exclusively.
Zeltsman also directs the Zeltsman Marimba Festival (ZMF), an annual traveling festival that brings together students and faculty for two weeks of concerts, masterclasses, lessons, and lectures. ZMF is in the process of commissioning 24 Intermediate compositions for the marimba. Twelve will be written by internationally renowned composers such as Gunther Schuller, Michael Tilson Thomas, and Paul Simon. The other twelve will be chosen from entries in an international composition contest. All works will be performed at ZMF 2009 in Appleton, WI.
Contributor to Percussive Notes magazine; Associate Editor of keyboard articles from 1999 through 2001.
Marimba
The marimba is a musical instrument in the percussion family. It consists of a set of wooden keys or bars with resonators. The bars are struck with mallets to produce musical tones. The keys are arranged as those of a piano, with the accidentals raised vertically and overlapping the natural keys ...
Soloist, Nancy Zeltsman (b.1958) has taught at the Boston Conservatory and Berklee College of Music since 1993.
Biography
Zeltsman was born in 1958 in Morristown, New JerseyMorristown, New Jersey
Morristown is a town in Morris County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the town population was 18,411. It is the county seat of Morris County. Morristown became characterized as "the military capital of the American Revolution" because of its strategic role in the...
In 1976, Zeltsman studied with Vic Firth at New England Conservatory of Music
New England Conservatory of Music
The New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, Massachusetts, is the oldest independent school of music in the United States.The conservatory is home each year to 750 students pursuing undergraduate and graduate studies along with 1400 more in its Preparatory School as well as the School of...
. Following her sophomore year (1978), she was a percussion fellow at Tanglewood
Tanglewood
Tanglewood is an estate and music venue in Lenox and Stockbridge, Massachusetts. It is the home of the annual summer Tanglewood Music Festival and the Tanglewood Jazz Festival, and has been the Boston Symphony Orchestra's summer home since 1937. It was the venue of the Berkshire Festival.- History...
. She took a sabbatical and returned to NEC in 1980 to continue her studies, graduating with a Bachelor of Music (percussion performance) in 1982. She then studied jazz improvisation with Dave Samuels
Dave Samuels
Dave Samuels is an American vibraphone player who has worked with various jazz and fusion artists, such as Spyro Gyra. Currently, he plays in an ensemble called The Caribbean Jazz Project, a Grammy-winning jazz-Latin music group...
for several years.
She performed in a duo with violinist Sharan Leventhal in the mid 1980s through to the mid 1990s, and another duo with Janis Potter after the former duo dissolved. She occasionally performs with Jack Van Geem, and a recording she made with him was released in 1994.
In 1993, she was offered a Chair at the Boston Conservatory
Boston Conservatory
The Boston Conservatory is a performing arts conservatory located in the Fenway-Kenmore region of Boston, Massachusetts, United States. It grants undergraduate and graduate degrees in music, dance and musical theater...
and Berklee College of Music
Berklee College of Music
Berklee College of Music, located in Boston, Massachusetts, is the largest independent college of contemporary music in the world. Known primarily as a school for jazz, rock and popular music, it also offers college-level courses in a wide range of contemporary and historic styles, including hip...
, where she teaches the marimba exclusively.
Zeltsman also directs the Zeltsman Marimba Festival (ZMF), an annual traveling festival that brings together students and faculty for two weeks of concerts, masterclasses, lessons, and lectures. ZMF is in the process of commissioning 24 Intermediate compositions for the marimba. Twelve will be written by internationally renowned composers such as Gunther Schuller, Michael Tilson Thomas, and Paul Simon. The other twelve will be chosen from entries in an international composition contest. All works will be performed at ZMF 2009 in Appleton, WI.
"Marimolin" (Marimba/Violin duo with Sharan Leventhal)
- Marimolin (1988),
- Phantasmata (1995, GM Recordings)
- Combo Platter (1994, Catalyst/BMG)
solo
- Woodcuts (1993, GM Recordings)
- See Ya Thursday (1999, Equilibrium)
- Sweet Song (June 2005)
Published works
- Four Mallet Marimba Playing: A Musical Approach for All Levels (2003 Hal Leonard Corporation) ISBN 0-634-03426-X.
Contributor to Percussive Notes magazine; Associate Editor of keyboard articles from 1999 through 2001.