Marimba One instruments facilitate supremely balanced artistry for each individual performer. The Heartland Marimba Quartet strives to embody this versatility and dynamicity. The profound acoustics and picturesque beauty of the instruments easily come alive at the hands of passionate performers. Marimba One’s unmatched craftsmanship and musicality resides at the heart of the Heartland Marimba Quartet.
Heartland Marimba Quartet
The Heartland Marimba Quartet (of the Heartland Marimba Organization):
- Matthew Coley (HM executive/artistic director)
- Ryan Pearson
- Marco Schirripa
- Hunter Gross
The Heartland Marimba Quartet (HMQ) was established in 2016 by acclaimed marimba soloist Matthew Coley and has done more than 150 concerts since its inception. The group seeks to give a platform to the music of American composers in its programming and continues to expand its repertoire with works from composers worldwide. Comprised of four distinctly creative forces (Matthew Coley, Hunter Gross, Ryan Pearson and Marco Schirripa) HMQ exemplifies Heartland Marimba’s mission to develop and disseminate the classical marimba art form in both academic and community contexts.
Another facet of HMQ’s work includes organizing and leading marimba orchestra performances. The marimba orchestra idiom, which dates back to the early 20th century, is an important part of classical marimba in America. Such ensembles, typically ranging from 25-100 marimba players, can be a grand spectacle, as seen at the 1933 Century of Progress World’s Fair in Chicago with Clair Omar Musser’s 100–piece marimba orchestra. In 2020, HMQ was invited to be featured performers with the International Marimba Orchestra, an auditioned group of professional marimba players, in Kutztown, Pennsylvania, and Indianapolis, Indiana. HMQ has also performed marimba orchestra concerts with the percussion students of Arizona State University and San Diego State University, and at past Heartland Marimba Festivals.
"The Heartland Marimba Quartet is a fabulous ensemble. [They] perform with arresting and virtuoso precision. This unanimity of execution extends not only to the articulation of the various pitches and rhythms, but to the broad palette of dynamics and colors they explore, all couched in a marvelous plasticity of phrasing." ~ Ken Meltzer, Fanfare Magazine
"Heartland Marimba Quartet is doing commendable work to promote and expand the marimba quartet art form...[HMQ] demonstrates fabulous ensemble skills, infectious energy, and nuanced performances." ~ Rebecca McDaniel, Percussive Notes
Connect with Artist: