Jenny Klukken traveled to Paris to study marimba, composition, and improvisation with Eric Sammut, and to compose works for marimba that incorporated her unique approach to the instrument. The Studio Z performance will premiere works she composed in Paris, plus various works that have been collectively arranged by Jenny Klukken and guest musicians Robert Everest (guitar/vocals), Michael Bissonette (percussion), and The OK Factor (violin: Karla Colahan, cello: Olivia Diercks). We interviewed Jenny to learn more about the new works and her artistic background and inspirations.

Where do you find inspiration for your unique style of marimba composition?

I played the piano as a child and studied classical percussion in college. I discovered the marimba when I was a freshmen in college and it became clearer to me throughout my schoolingcurrently pursuing music in the UK as a 2018 Marshall Scholar.

​In 2009, at the age of twelve, Shruthi won the youth division of the Eric Stokes Song Contest with her original composition entitled A Memory. Shruthi shares her song contest experience with us reflects on its impact on her music career.

​Hello!

My name is Shruthi Rajasekar, and I'm a Minnesotan composer and vocalist. I'm currently living in London as a Marshall Scholar, where I am "reading" for a master's degree in Ethnomusicology at SOAS, University of London; next year, I'll be doing another degree in composition. I'm a product of the Wayzata Public Schools, and did my undergraduate work at Princeton University. In other words, I like school!

During the winter of 2008-2009, I did something that kinda changed my