Manuel Leuenberger

Manuel Leuenberger, born 1988 in Switzerland, is a classically trained percussionist who focused on the marimba as his main instrument, giving him the brand name „Marimba Artist“. Creating art with the marimba in as many ways as possible leaded him to perform concerts as a soloist with orchestra and choir as well as to collaborations with different duo formations such as his newly founded duo „Acoustic Voyagers“ with marimba and clarinet. Manuel also mixes Marimba with Organ, having recorded the CD „Bach in Brazil“ with Japanese Organ player Yoshiko Masaki and creates programs with the multiple tap dance World Champion Daniel Borak.

He holds a Bachelor’s degree with distinction from the ZHdK - Zürcher Hochschule der Künste in Switzerland, a Master’s degree from the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami, USA and a Diploma of Advanced studies in instrumental pedagogy from the HSLU - Hochschule Luzern in Switzerland.

In 2020, Manuel Leuenberger performed at the Berlin Philharmonic, where he played his own transcription of the d-minor Concerto for harpsichord by J. S. Bach together with the NZO | New Zurich Orchestra. Manuel had two marimba concerti written for him and is also a published composer himself. He has a high artistic output on the internet platform „Patreon“, where he releases two music videos per week for his patrons who exclusively support him with their subscription.

Manuel Leuenberger played concerts in Switzerland, Germany, Italy, Romania and the US. For his most recent project he traveled to the USA again for a collaboration with South African organ player Roshan Chakane who is a doctoral candidate at the Notre Dame University in South Bend, Indiana.

Manuel Leuenberger is a Marimba One Discovery Artist and received the cultural price chapeau!wetzikon for his work as the Marimba Artist.