P Formerly Principal Percussionist/Assistant Principal Timpanist with the San Antonio Symphony Orchestra, Marilyn Rife moved to Portland, Oregon in December of 2002. Before moving to Portland, she had performed with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra as an extra musician in subscription concerts, tours, and recordings. She was also an instructor of percussion at Trinity University and St. Mary's University, both in San Antonio, Texas. She has served in an advisory capacity on orchestra panels for The National Endowment for the Arts in 1994 and 1996.
In addition to her duties as Orchestra Manager for the Oregon Symphony, Marilyn has performed with the Oregon Ballet Theater, Portland Chamber Orchestra and the Portland Symphonic Choir.
Special Works
In November of 1992, Marilyn was featured as soloist with the Winters Chamber Orchestra in the world premiere of "Primitive Echoes" Concerto for Timpani and Orchestra by Alice Gomez. The work, written for Marilyn, was subsequently performed with The San Antonio Symphony.
Symphonic Recordings:
Marilyn has participated in a number of symphonic recordings, including:
with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra as an extra percussionist and
with the San Antonio Symphony with Michael Martin Murphey.
Popular Recordings
With composer Alice Gomez, Marilyn Rife is a co-founder of the Latin folk group, Marimba Quest. Based in San Antonio, the group consists of Alice Gomez, Marilyn Rife, Michael and Linda Richter, and Madalyn Blanchett, performing on marimba, acoustic guitar, bass, and flute. The members of the group perform in different combinations, depending on the type of performance.
Marilyn Rife has several popular recordings commercially available:
playing timpani on her solo release, "Seasons of the Drum"
playing marimba, percussion and synthesizer on "Flute Dreams", "Journeys of the Flute", "While the Eagle Sleeps", and "Obsidian Butterfly" with Alice Gomez
playing marimba and percussion on "Christmas Carnaval" and "Incidents of Travel" by Latin folk group Marimba Quest
percussion and synthesizer on "Miracles and Mountains" with the San Quilmas Consort.
Published Works
Marilyn has several published percussion works through Southern Music Company.