Boston Conservatory at Berklee and Berklee College of Music faculty members Sharan Leventhal (violin) and Nancy Zeltsman (marimba) formed their duo, Marimolin, 40 years ago. Since that time, they have commissioned and premiered over 80 pieces and made a significant mark on chamber music, particularly within the percussion community.
Program Information
Repertoire
GABRIEL TOMAŚ GARZA (BM '26): Sepia (2025)*
MICHAEL CRANE (GPD '25): Schizocapsa; Integrifolia (2026)*
GUNTHER SCHULLER: Phantasmata (1989)
I. Maestoso
II. Lively
III. Molto Adagio
IV. Grave; Maestoso e grandioso
CHASE MORRIN: Bring Me a Lamp, Cut Me a Window (2026)*
DAVID FRIEDMAN: Inside Outside (1987)
Leo Martinez (BM '25), double bass
ROBERT ALDRIDGE: Soaring, an encore piece (1986)
* world premiere
Ensemble
Marimolin
Sharan Leventhal, violin
Nancy Zeltsman, marimba
About the Artists
Nancy Zeltsman and Sharan Leventhal were introduced by composer Robert Aldridge in the fall of 1985. They performed their debut recital live on WGBH Radio and in a self-produced concert in Boston in the spring of 1986. Marimolin was extremely active for a decade, self-producing three to four concerts per year in Boston, and premiering dozens of new works. They also performed on numerous concert series across the US and in Puerto Rico, England, the Netherlands, Germany, Austria, and Sweden. They were featured at the Tanglewood Festival of Contemporary Music (Lenox, Massachusetts), the Ravinia Festival (Highland Park, Illinois), and the Huddersfield Festival of Contemporary Music (England). Besides subsequent appearances on WGBH Radio in Boston, they were heard and interviewed on WQXR and WNYC Radio in New York City, BBC Radio in London, and Swedish and Austrian radio.
Marimolin raised over $68,000 to commission new works through many grants, and sponsored a composition contest for eight years that collectively attracted nearly 200 entries from around the world. With tonight’s concert, they have premiered 85 compositions written for them. The duo recorded three albums. Their debut CD, Marimolin (GM Recordings), produced by Gunther Schuller, received wide acclaim, including being named “Classical CD of the Month” in CD Review magazine, and was bestowed a perfect 10 out of 10 rating for performance and sound quality in the March 1990 issue. The duo’s third CD, Combo Platter (Catalyst/BMG, out of print) was named “Disc of the Month” in the June 1995 issue of CD Review.
Since 2015, Marimolin has performed occasionally—most recently at Boston Conservatory at Berklee: a faculty recital in fall 2023 and an Artistry in Action faculty chamber music recital in early 2024.
Concert Services Staff
Assistant Director, Concert Services – Luis Herrera
Coordinator, Concert Services – Matthew Carey
Concert Production Manager – Kendall Floyd
Performance Technology Technicians – Sara Pagiaro, Goran Daskalov
Boston Conservatory thanks audience members for viewing this program information online. This paperless program saved 130 sheets of paper, 14 gallons of water, and 12 pounds of CO2-equivalent greenhouse gas emissions.
Related Categories:
Faculty Performances
Music
