On Friday night, May 18th from 5:30-8:30 p.m. at the southwest corner of Mountain and College Avenues by Ingredient, you can enjoy a solo marimba performance by Staci Tomaszewski. Staci is a professional musician and recent graduate from Colorado State University with a percussion performance degree.  Her performance will include solo marimba and gyil.  The marimba is related to the xylophone, though it's 9 feet long and has a much warmer sound.  The modern marimba was introduced in 1902. As a newer instrument, the classical repertoire you'll hear Staci play has all been adapted from the original instrument to be played on the marimba. The gyil is a more distant relative to the xylophone, with origins in Ghana.  It is tuned to a pentatonic scale and the music is more rhythmic than melodic in nature.  

Staci will be playing a variety of styles and pieces on the marimba and gyil throughout the summer with Streetmosphere.  She has studied percussion around the world and strongly believes in peace through music. Music is a universal language, and she loves to travel and share this language with as many people as possible. Staci also enjoys private, one-on-one and small ensemble teaching and says, "Working with young people is one of my biggest joys in life." 

Staci comes to Streetmosphere after enjoying the program as an audience member for the past two years, and is excited to perform in these unique venues. As a musician, local arts and culture are very important to her and she believes that keeping culture alive is more important now that ever, with the economic issues that this country is facing.  "The arts have been proven time and again to raise morale and confidence in students. With more arts and culture being shown in public, more interest grows in the arts in all areas of Fort Collins.  Something as simple as an exciting performance in Old Town may inspire a child to become the next Jimi Hendrix or Joshua Bell.  More importantly, a child may be inspired to become a teacher later in life."