"I have been the proud owner of a Marimba One for many years. The playability of the instrument and the strong fundamental make it ideal for bowing and extended techniques, as well as traditional playing. The physical beauty of the instrument and warmth of the sound dazzles audiences wherever I take it. "
Marilyn Clark Silva
Internationally recognized percussionist Marilyn K. Clark Silva has a classic portfolio career as an Arizona Teaching Artist through the Phoenix Center for the Arts and an active freelance percussionist currently located in the Phoenix metroplex. She is a Marimba One Educational Artist and founding member of both "Tandem Duo" and "Sugar and Carbs," chamber groups that commission and perform new works throughout the United States and abroad. She has a performed with Island Steel, Salt River Brass Band, Vocal Essence, Phoenix First Assembly, Scottsdale Arts Orchestra, Folsom Symphony, Panic Steel Band, Crossing 32nd Street, Pan Devils Steel Band, J.T.'s Mexican Marimba Band, as well as many other diverse ensembles. Dr. Clark Silva has performed at the Musical Instrument Museum (MIM), Minneapolis Orchestra Hall, Ted Mann Concert Hall, The Mondavi Center, Gammage Auditorium, Lloyd Ultan Recital Hall, the Ateneo Auditiorium in Panama City, The Costa Rica National Center for Music, The National Theater of Panama, and The Phoenix Art Museum. She has performed premieres internationally, and in addition to commissioning new works has had two of her own compositions premiered in 2016.
Dr. Clark Silva teaches music history and theory as well as percussion ensemble at Veritas Prep Academy and teaches privately throughout the Phoenix valley. Dr. Clark Silva was a panelist and presenter for the 2015 College Music Society National Convention and is the founder/developer of the Start-Up Steel pedagogical method. She is a faculty member and performing artist for the Mt. Blanca Summer Music Conservatory, a featured artist with Sugar and Carbs for the Interference Concert Series in Flagstaff, AZ, and premiered a new chamber work at the 2016 American Harp Society, Inc. National Conference. With Tandem Duo and Tandem Collective Dr. Clark Silva presented a national tour in the Spring of 2016, and a Southern Colorado tour in the Summer of 2016. Tandem Duo presented the international Kondo Festival in September 2016, with Dr. Clark Silva serving as co-artistic director. Tandem Duo released their first album of original arrangements featuring bowing on the marimba, “Bars and Bows,” in July 2016 and have been invited to be guest artists at CSU Sacramento's Festival of New American Music in 2017. Both Tandem Duo and Sugar & Carbs were panelists and presenters at Phoenix Comicon 2016. Dr. Clark Silva is a pioneer in the technique of bowing the marimba and presents masterclasses on bowing technique and custom mallet wrapping. Dr. Clark Silva has given interviews to Minnesota Public Radio, Phoenix KBACH, Panama National Radio, the Houstonian, and the ASU State Press. Outside of music Dr. Clark Silva advocates for animal rights and has started a Benefit Concert Series in Tempe, AZ to fund transporting animals from high kill shelters to foster homes around the country. She has also acted as a grant writer, shelter assessor, and volunteer for animal rescue organizations.
Dr. Clark Silva received her bachelor's in percussion performance from California State University, Sacramento, her master's in percussion performance from Arizona State University, and her D.M.A. in percussion performance from the University of Minnesota.