Notes to my
Former Self
A new album by Maria Finkelmeier
“One-woman dynamo” — The Boston Globe
“basically an entire art scene herself” — NPR / All Things Considered
Notes to my Former Self is Maria Finkelmeier’s debut solo album for marimba, percussion, electronics, and voice: a recording that expands the marimba into a full-body, cinematic instrument.
Recorded and mixed in Spatial Audio by John Escobar, the album moves between virtuosic percussion writing, intimate vocal fragments, and lyrical improvisations, creating a 10-track arc about memory, transformation, and the distance between who we were and who we are becoming.
Born from Finkelmeier’s touring solo performance work, the album stands alone as an immersive listening experience while also connecting to a larger visual performance world.
At a time when contemporary classical music is increasingly shaped by performer-composers and deeply personal forms of storytelling, Notes to my Former Self offers a distinctly embodied approach to solo percussion. The album reframes the marimba not only as a virtuosic instrument, but as a vessel for memory and transformation. It reflects Finkelmeier’s broader practice as an artist working between concert music, public art, technology, and live performance.
The Team
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![Portrait of a smiling woman in a colorful patterned blouse and skirt against a pink background. Maria Finkelmeier Musician Professor, Composer, Director]()
Maria Finkelmeier
ARTIST, COMPOSER, and CO-PRODUCER
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![Sound engineer operating a mixing console in a recording studio with sheet music and microphones]()
John Escobar
RECORDING ENGINEER and CO-PRODUCER
photo by Ryan Nava
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![Distressed blue and black graphic with the word “MUSIC” over bold abstract geometric shapes]()
Futura Productions by John Weston
RECORDING STUDIO
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![Black-and-white close-up portrait of a smiling woman with curly hair outdoors in front of a brick wall]()
Supreetha Krishnan
ALBUM DESIGN
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![Black-and-white head-and-shoulders portrait of a man wearing a checkered button-down shirt]()
Adam DeTour
PHOTOGRAPHER
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![Smiling woman with shoulder-length brown hair wearing a turquoise top]()
Stephanie Janes
PUBLICIST
Track List:
Vignette 1
Hourglass
Vignette 2
Superhero Butterfly
Vignette 3
Cascades of Embers
Vignette 4
MUD
Vignette 5
alla finé
Assets to be written, designed, and available:
Full album design and booklet
notes regarding each work
Scores for each Vignette for sale
Comprehensive social media campaign
Additional team members:
Assisted by Kara Snethlage, Jane Long, and Denver Nuckolls
Special Thanks: Broadband Collaborative, Supreetha Krishnan, Allison Rodman, John Weston, Max Gaertner, Berklee College of Music, Siwon Kim, Katie Jillson, Lillian and Azalea DeTour.
The Live Show
Former Self is a 65 minute concert experience featuring original music and generative visuals based on a series of notes from Maria to her former selves. Stories ranging from cautionary tales to moments of resilience create a personal, yet approachable thread of connectivity. Featuring the sounds of marimba, electronic samples, bells, voice, and spoken work, each work expresses a rich and dynamic texture. The project utilizes video animations created by tracking Maria’s movements on stage, where each percussive gesture becomes a web of linear visual energy. The webs are nested in bespoke settings created by visual artist Supreetha Krishnan. Supreetha’s work explores how extended reality interactions can enhance audience participation and community building. The work can be paired with workshops and guest lectures.
Upcoming
Previous
Museum of Science, Boston
Boston, MA
May 2, 2025
April 7-8, 2026Pearl Arts
Fort Wayne, IN
Kutztown University Wells-Rapp Center for Mallet Percussion Research
Kutztown, PA
November 8, 2026
November 15, 2024Workshop
Percussive Arts Society International Convention Indianapolis, IN
December 5, 2024MassArt Art Museum
Boston, MA
April 17, 2025American University of Sharjah
Dubai, UAE
August 22, 2026Art Intersection MKE
Milwaukee, WI