The Members of/Los Ejecutantes de Marimba Sol de Chiapas
	John Currey, Director of Marimba Sol de Chiapas, was an original cast member of Sticks of Thunder and holds a master's degree in percussion performance from the Conservatory of Music at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, where he currently teaches for the Conservatory's Community Music & Dance Academy.  A freelance performer and teacher, John is Percussionist for the Kansas City Brassworks, plays timpani for the Kansas City Ballet Orchestra, and performs extra timpani and percussion with the Kansas City Symphony. Numerous performance credits include appearances with the Czech National Orchestra, newEar contemporary chamber ensemble, nationally-touring productions of Broadway's Evita and Ragtime, the Chico Symphony, Kansas City Chamber Orchestra, and American Ballet Theatre.  He has played percussion at the Sunflower Music Festival, and served two years as Principal Timpanist for the Western Slope Music Festival in Crested Butte, Colorado, where he toured with the Kansas City Brass.  The Founder and Artistic Director of the Multi-cultural percussion ensemble Echoes of Africa, John's hand drumming is featured with the Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey, and earned him a commission to co-write music for the Wylliams/Henry Dance Company.  A member of the Tri-Percussion group and Music Director and an arranger for the former Marimba Yajalón, he has appeared with the Caribbean Steel pan band, and has toured throughout the United States, Mexico, and Western Europe. Teaching credits include Graceland College in Lamoni, Iowa, Calvary Bible College, Pittsburg State University, and as an Adjunct Assistant Professor at UMKC.  John presented at and arranged percussion for the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians’ 2001 Biennial Conference, and his marimba and djembe resources are published by MUSICA JOROCU. James Schank received a bachelor's degree from Missouri Western State College in 1986, a master's degree in percussion performance from Drake University in 1988, and a master's degree in conducting from the UMKC Conservatory in 1996.  An experienced veteran of the Mexican marimba, James was a member of Marimba Yajalón from 1993 to 2004 and continues as a member of Marimba Sol de Chiapas.  He is a member of the St. Joseph Symphony, and has performed with the Des Moines Symphony, Kansas City Symphony, Longmont Colorado Symphony, the Chico Symphony, and the Czech National Orchestra.  He previously taught percussion at Simpson College and Drake University, both in Iowa, and at the Kansas City, Kansas Community College.  James is an active teacher/performer in the Kansas City area. Sam Wisman was born into a musical family in Topeka, KS.  He has performed in a variety of settings and with numerous musical groups including the Kansas City Symphony, the Topeka Symphony, the St. Joseph Symphony, the Northland Symphony, Kansas City Puccini Fest, Krystle Warren, Bobby Watson, Terrell Stafford, Wycliffe Gordon, Rob Scheps, Lisa Henry, James Ward, the Brad Cox Ensemble, and the Boulevard Big Band.  In addition to being a Group Member of Marimba Sol de Chiapas, Sam is a member of the Westport Art Ensemble, the Owen/Cox Dance Group, the People's Liberation Big Band, the Kerry Strayer Septet, the Kevin Cerovich Quartet, the Roger Wilder Quartet, the Jeff Harshbarger Quartet, the Jake Blanton Band, and leads his own group, the Sam Wisman Quartet.  He has worked as a percussionist in musical theater throughout the Midwest including the Coterie Theater, Topeka Civic Theater, and Colombian Theater.  Sam has been involved in premieres by Harry Connick Jr., Stephen Schwartz, Ahrens & Flaherty, and Jeremiah Neal.  Sam also teaches drums and percussion at the University of Missouri - Kansas City Community Music and Dance Academy and is Instructor of Drumset at Missouri Southern State University.  Besides playing drums and percussion, Sam enjoys playing guitar, piano, and bass. Marja Kerney has been performing with Marimba Sol de Chiapas since 2006, and became Sol’s newest Group Member in May of 2009.  She is currently pursuing her Doctorate of Musical Arts studying percussion performance at the University of Missouri-Kansas City with Dr. James Snell.  She received a master’s degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City and a bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University, studying with Dr. Alison Shaw and David Hall of the Grand Rapids Symphony.  Marja teaches privately and is an active free-lance percussionist in the Kansas City area, having performed with numerous professional groups including the Kansas City Symphony, Kansas City Ballet, Wichita Symphony, and St. Joseph Symphony, as well as the West Shore Symphony, Midland Symphony, and Greater Lansing Symphony in Michigan.
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