Sol's Members
John Currey, Director
John Currey, Director
John Currey's diverse musical interests and explorations has resulted in an eclectic mix of performance credits including with the Kansas City Symphony, Elton Dan and the Rocket Band, Czech National Orchestra, newEar contemporary chamber ensemble, American Ballet Theater, Caribbean Steel pan band, and the Kansas City Brass. He is a member of Cubanisms salsa band, Tri-Percussion group, Ensemble Iberica music group, Kansas City Brassworks brass quintet, Broken String Latin Jazz trio, Slim Hanson and the Poor Choices country band, Echoes of Africa drumming ensemble, and, is Director of Marimba Sol de Chiapas marimba band. Mr. Currey accompanies Modern Dance for the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory Dance Division, Kansas City Ballet School, and for the Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey outreach programs and AileyCamps. His accompanying has been featured in a variety of Master Classes with members of the Lar Lubovitch Dance Company, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and Ailey II, Diavolo, Deeply Rooted, and Paul Taylor Dance Company; for David Parsons, Leni Wylliams, Denise Jefferson, Edgar Anido, Cleo Parker Robinson, Troy Powell, Jawole Willa Jo Zollar, and others, and his dance music commissions include for the Wylliams/Henry Dance Company and as composer and musician performer for Suzanne Ryan Strati's 'A Tulip Unfolding' dance suite. John's Flamenco performances include with Flamenco Guitar virtuosos Antonio Andrade and Miguel Sotelo, and, in a variety of Flamenco dance and music ensembles including FlamenKCMO, Siento y Vivo Flamenco, Flamenco Mío, Flamenco de los Barrios, and Olé Music and Dance of Spain. John holds a bachelor’s degree in Percussion Performance from Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas, and a Master of Music in Percussion Performance from the UMKC Conservatory of Music. Teaching credits include for Graceland College in Lamoni, Iowa, Pittsburg State University, as an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the UMKC Conservatory, and as an Arts Educator for Kansas City Young Audiences.
John Currey's diverse musical interests and explorations has resulted in an eclectic mix of performance credits including with the Kansas City Symphony, Elton Dan and the Rocket Band, Czech National Orchestra, newEar contemporary chamber ensemble, American Ballet Theater, Caribbean Steel pan band, and the Kansas City Brass. He is a member of Cubanisms salsa band, Tri-Percussion group, Ensemble Iberica music group, Kansas City Brassworks brass quintet, Broken String Latin Jazz trio, Slim Hanson and the Poor Choices country band, Echoes of Africa drumming ensemble, and, is Director of Marimba Sol de Chiapas marimba band. Mr. Currey accompanies Modern Dance for the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory Dance Division, Kansas City Ballet School, and for the Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey outreach programs and AileyCamps. His accompanying has been featured in a variety of Master Classes with members of the Lar Lubovitch Dance Company, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and Ailey II, Diavolo, Deeply Rooted, and Paul Taylor Dance Company; for David Parsons, Leni Wylliams, Denise Jefferson, Edgar Anido, Cleo Parker Robinson, Troy Powell, Jawole Willa Jo Zollar, and others, and his dance music commissions include for the Wylliams/Henry Dance Company and as composer and musician performer for Suzanne Ryan Strati's 'A Tulip Unfolding' dance suite. John's Flamenco performances include with Flamenco Guitar virtuosos Antonio Andrade and Miguel Sotelo, and, in a variety of Flamenco dance and music ensembles including FlamenKCMO, Siento y Vivo Flamenco, Flamenco Mío, Flamenco de los Barrios, and Olé Music and Dance of Spain. John holds a bachelor’s degree in Percussion Performance from Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas, and a Master of Music in Percussion Performance from the UMKC Conservatory of Music. Teaching credits include for Graceland College in Lamoni, Iowa, Pittsburg State University, as an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the UMKC Conservatory, and as an Arts Educator for Kansas City Young Audiences.
Katie Garcia
Katie Garcia
Katie comes from a musical family, majored in music at Truman State University and earned her Bachelor of Music in 2012. Ms. Garcia performs in a variety of groups in the Kansas City-metro.
Katie comes from a musical family, majored in music at Truman State University and earned her Bachelor of Music in 2012. Ms. Garcia performs in a variety of groups in the Kansas City-metro.
Emily Schaeffer
Emily Schaeffer
Emily Schaeffer is a Missouri native and graduated Truman State University with a degree in Percussion and Masters in Education. She has been a percussion director in Harrisonville, MO, has taught with groups in Missouri and Iowa, and has presented at the KC Public Schools Summer Institute. She has performed as a member of the Colts Drum and Bugle Corps and Gateway Indoor Percussion. In addition to playing with Marimba Sol de Chiapas, Emily enjoys playing in the Kansas City Percussion Collective and various other performance opportunities.
Emily Schaeffer is a Missouri native and graduated Truman State University with a degree in Percussion and Masters in Education. She has been a percussion director in Harrisonville, MO, has taught with groups in Missouri and Iowa, and has presented at the KC Public Schools Summer Institute. She has performed as a member of the Colts Drum and Bugle Corps and Gateway Indoor Percussion. In addition to playing with Marimba Sol de Chiapas, Emily enjoys playing in the Kansas City Percussion Collective and various other performance opportunities.
Sam Wisman
Sam Wisman
Sam Wisman is a versatile fixture in Kansas City's creative music scene. In addition to Marimba Sol de Chiapas, Sam is a member of the Kansas City Jazz Orchestra, the People's Liberation Big Band, Kinnor Philharmonic, Owen/Cox Dance Group, HoraceScope, and the Roger Wilder Quintet & Trio. Sam has performed with the Kansas City Symphony, Lyric Opera of Kansas City, Ensemble Iberica, the Topeka Symphony, Weird Al Yankovic, Krystle Warren, Bobby Watson, Terrell Stafford, The New York Voices, The Sons of Brasil, and plays regularly with, Mark Lowrey, Chris Hazelton, Ken Lovern, Matt Hopper and many more. He has worked extensively as a percussionist in musical theater including the Kansas City Repertory Theater, Starlight Theatre, The Music Hall, New Theatre Restaurant, Unicorn Theater, Musical Theater Heritage, and the Coterie Theater. Sam has helped to premiere works by Harry Connick Jr., Stephen Schwartz, Shirley Jones & Richard Maltby Jr., Jodi Picoult, Henry Krieger & Bill Russell, and Ahrens & Flaherty. Sam is a producer for 91.9 Classical KC and you can also listen to Sam as a DJ for Jazz Afternoon on 90.1 FM KKFI. Love to L, J, & Z!
Sam Wisman is a versatile fixture in Kansas City's creative music scene. In addition to Marimba Sol de Chiapas, Sam is a member of the Kansas City Jazz Orchestra, the People's Liberation Big Band, Kinnor Philharmonic, Owen/Cox Dance Group, HoraceScope, and the Roger Wilder Quintet & Trio. Sam has performed with the Kansas City Symphony, Lyric Opera of Kansas City, Ensemble Iberica, the Topeka Symphony, Weird Al Yankovic, Krystle Warren, Bobby Watson, Terrell Stafford, The New York Voices, The Sons of Brasil, and plays regularly with, Mark Lowrey, Chris Hazelton, Ken Lovern, Matt Hopper and many more. He has worked extensively as a percussionist in musical theater including the Kansas City Repertory Theater, Starlight Theatre, The Music Hall, New Theatre Restaurant, Unicorn Theater, Musical Theater Heritage, and the Coterie Theater. Sam has helped to premiere works by Harry Connick Jr., Stephen Schwartz, Shirley Jones & Richard Maltby Jr., Jodi Picoult, Henry Krieger & Bill Russell, and Ahrens & Flaherty. Sam is a producer for 91.9 Classical KC and you can also listen to Sam as a DJ for Jazz Afternoon on 90.1 FM KKFI. Love to L, J, & Z!
