The Zeltsman Marimba Festival (ZMF) is coming to Appleton, June 28-July 11, 2009. Marimba experts will be congregating and performing here, with over 20 performances scheduled. Don't miss the ZMF New Music Gala Concert Sunday, July 5, 2009 at 2pm in Harper Hall, nor the opening concert on Sunday, June 28, 2009 at 8pm in Stansbury Theatre at Lawrence University. The ZMF.us site gives details on performances and tickets.

Here's the announcement from ZMF.us:

ZMF and Lawrence University present ZMF 2009: June 28 to July 11, 2009

The eighth edition of Zeltsman Marimba Festival, Inc. will be held in Appleton, Wisconsin, co-sponsored by Lawrence University, ZMF’s biennial home. The marimba seminar will be attended by nearly 60 marimbists and percussionists from around the world.

A series of eight concerts—open to the public—will feature this year’s renowned faculty, special guests (including jazz pianist Lyle Mays), and emerging marimba stars. They’ll perform music ranging from classical and contemporary to jazz, in solo and chamber music settings.

ZMF 2009 will be a landmark event in marimba history. 24 new solo marimba pieces—the fruits of a three-year project called ZMF New Music—will be unveiled by this year’s faculty. 16 of these works were written by some of the most esteemed composers of our time, and eight are the winners of an international composition contest.

The smart thing to do is to buy the Package A ticket for $35. Advance reservations are possible only for one of the shows, the one by the famous Lyle Mays on July 10. Make your reservations now!