Julie Spencer
Julie Spencer (b. 1962, Indianapolis, USA) is an internationally recognized composer, marimbist, percussionist, and visual artist, currently based in Germany. She studied at the Eastman School of Music, earning her Performer’s Certificate, and later completed her master’s degree at CalArts.
Spencer’s musical work spans a broad stylistic spectrum — combining improvisation, world-music crossovers, jazz, and contemporary classical techniques.
As a composer, she has created over forty pieces for keyboard percussion, including solo marimba works, chamber music, and concerti, many of which are published by Norsk Musikforlag. One of her signature techniques is her “Relaxed Concentration” method for two-mallet marimba, which emphasizes using larger arm muscles instead of smaller hand muscles to reduce tension.
Her compositions have been commissioned and performed by international artists and ensembles — including the Japan Percussion Society, the Heartland Marimba Quartet, and world-renowned percussionists — and appear on over 30 CD recordings. Spencer has also premiered her work in major venues, such as Warsaw and Taiwan, and has collaborated on multi-ethnic projects with singers and instrumentalists from around the globe.
Beyond music, Spencer is a visual artist whose paintings have been exhibited in Germany, Japan, Norway, and the U.S.
She teaches and mentors through international festivals like KoSA, IKMMA, and Zeltsman Marimba Festivals.
Her dual role as a performer and composer — together with her passion for cultural synthesis and artistic expression — make her a distinctive voice in contemporary percussion music.
