The Marimba’s Voice
When you think of a symphony orchestra, instruments like violins, flutes, and trumpets may come to mind. But every once in a while, an instrument steps into the spotlight and expands our sense of what orchestral sound can be. This fall, that instrument is the marimba—a dazzling fusion of rhythm and resonance that will take center stage in Emmanuel Séjourné’s Concerto for Marimba and Strings. The LaGrange Symphony Orchestra (LSO), under the direction of Maestro Richard Prior will present their October 28, 2025 concert titled STRING THEORY at 7:30 PM in Callaway Auditorium, LaGrange, GA. This Concerto for Marimba and Strings features Sebastian Ocando’s champion performance winning the 2025 LSO Young Artist Competition.
A Forest of Sound
The marimba is often called the “voice of the rainforest” for good reason. Its bars are carved from rosewood, a dense, richly toned wood that sings with warmth and clarity. Beneath each bar, resonator pipes amplify the sound, creating the marimba’s signature glow—a blend of earthy depth and bell-like shimmer.
A Five-octave Marimba
Not all marimba’s are the same. The width between bars, and the number of octaves, among other things, can vary slightly between instruments. The marimba featured in this concert, stretches an impressive eight feet in length and has five full octaves. That range gives the performer access to a full landscape of sound, from deep, mellow lows that hum like a cello section to sparkling highs that dance like flutes. This Séjourné piece uses the full instrument too! Watching a marimbist perform is like watching a ballet for the hands—graceful, athletic, and mesmerizing.
The marimba in the image below is a quick snapshot of the instrument Mr. Ocando will play. It was donated to LaGrange College by Dan and Austin Cook and is a beautiful high-quality Yamaha instrument. Since there is a variance between different instruments there is also a variance in how you must play them. Mr. Ocando was asked to look at it and determine if it was the instrument he wanted to use for the performance or to bring his own. Upon inspection, he said it was a beautiful marimba and that he would be honored to play it. Dan and Austin Cook, who donated the instrument are also long-time supporters of the LaGrange Symphony Orchestra. It will be a very special remembrance of Dan to use this instrument for this featured piece.
The Soloist: Sebastian Ocando
Taking on this dynamic work is Sebastian Ocando, this year’s LaGrange Symphony Orchestra Young Artists Competition winner. A gifted percussionist known for his precision, artistry, and stage presence, Ocando has impressed audiences and judges alike with his musical insight and technical command. He is also familiar with the LSO stage as he is a member of our orchestra’s percussion section.
Beyond his talent, Sebastian’s enthusiasm for sharing the marimba’s expressive range has made him an inspiring figure among young musicians. His performance of Séjourné’s concerto promises not just a display of virtuosity, but a genuine musical dialogue—between soloist and orchestra, tradition and innovation, sound and silence.
He is a graduate student in Music Performance at the Schwob School of Music at Columbus State University. A native of Venezuela, he began his musical studies under his father who was a professor in the Conservatory of Music in Maracaibo. Sebastian currently studies under Dr. Paul Vaillancourt, Professor of Percussion. He has performed in multiple orchestras and was the 1st prize winner in the London Internation Competition in the percussion category as well as the 1st prize winner of the percussion category in the BACH International Competition. Sebastian performed Concerto for Marimba and Strings Orchestra, 2nd Movement, Energuique by Emmanuel Sejourne. Sebastian received a $1,500 stipend and was invited to perform with the LaGrange Symphony Orchestra at this October concert.
About the Composer: Emmanuel Séjourné
French composer Emmanuel Séjourné (b. 1961) is celebrated for his vibrant, rhythmically charged works that blend classical form with the colors of jazz and popular music. A virtuoso percussionist himself, Séjourné has an insider’s understanding of how percussion instruments can sing, not just strike. His Concerto for Marimba and Strings—one of his most frequently performed works—has become a modern favorite for its expressive melodies and cinematic energy. It was composed in 1999.
Séjourné’s music often explores contrasts: light and shadow, tension and release, lyricism and pulse. In this concerto, the marimba doesn’t just accompany the orchestra—it converses with it, moving between moments of tender intimacy and exhilarating rhythm.
Inside the Music: Three Movements of Color and Motion
Séjourné’s Concerto for Marimba and Strings unfolds in three movements, each revealing a different side of the instrument’s expressive personality. Here are original descriptions written by the composer:
I. Avec force (With force) – The concerto opens with commanding energy and rhythmic intensity. The marimba’s resonant tones drive the music forward, engaging in a bold conversation with the strings. It’s a powerful, high-impact start that shows the instrument’s strength and precision.
II. Tempo souple (Flowing tempo) – The middle movement reveals the marimba’s lyrical side. Warm and expressive, it unfolds with a gentle flexibility, as if the music itself is breathing. Here the marimba’s rosewood bars truly sing, blending seamlessly with the orchestra’s lush harmonies.
III. Rythmique, énergique (Rhythmic, energetic) – The finale bursts with dance-like vitality. Fast-moving patterns, syncopated rhythms, and dazzling interplay between soloist and strings bring the work to an exhilarating close. It’s music that celebrates motion, rhythm, and joy.
Breaking Sound Barriers
This performance is part of the LSO’s 2025 season, “Breaking Sound Barriers,” celebrating music that redefines boundaries and invites listeners to hear the familiar in new ways. The marimba, with its lush tone and surprising emotional depth, is a perfect symbol of that theme.
Under the baton of Maestro Richard Prior, the LaGrange Symphony Orchestra brings this colorful and emotionally charged work to life—offering audiences an evening that blends youthful energy, masterful artistry, and the spirit of musical discovery.
Experience It Live
Don’t miss this unforgettable concert featuring Séjourné’s Concerto for Marimba and Strings with Sebastian Ocando, conducted by Maestro Richard Prior. Experience the full power and poetry of the marimba as it takes center stage with the LaGrange Symphony Orchestra.
Join us as we continue to Break Sound Barriers—and discover new sounds, new voices, and new ways of hearing the world around us.
Full Program:
The impressive full concert lineup includes:
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Selections from On Wenlock Edge – Ralph Vaughan Williams
Jonathan Pilkington, tenor; Vega String Quartet; William Ransom, piano
I On Wenlock Edge | IV Oh, when I was in love with you | VI Clun
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Allegretto from Palladio – Karl Jenkins
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Elegy – Herbert Howells
Yinzi Kong, viola; Vega String Quartet -
Simple Symphony – Benjamin Britten (Presented under license from G. Schirmer Inc. and Associated Music Publishers, copyright owners.)
I Boisterous Bourée | II Playful Pizzicato | III Sentimental Sarabande | IV Frolicsome Finale - Five Variants on Dives and Lazarus – Ralph Vaughan Williams
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Concerto for Marimba and Strings – Emmanuel Séjourné
Sebastian Ocando, marimba
I Avec force | II Tempo souple | III Rhythmique, énergique
Check out all the other posts elaborating on some of the other elements of this concert. Get your tickets easily through the button above. This concert will be fabulous!
© LaGrange Symphony Orchestra 2025/2026 | All rights reserved | 706.882.0662 | Richard Prior, Music Director & Conductor
