Celebrating its 5th season, Modern Marimba was created in 2019 by Tihda Vongkoth. She loved playing marimba in high school and college, but there were only a few opportunities to hear mallet percussion music outside of academia and large institutions. After realizing a need for curating performances and educational programs by and for all types of marginalized people, she organized a house concert in Sarasota for her neighbors, friends, and the general public.
As Modern Marimba connected and united people all around the world during the early years of the pandemic, Tihda realized she needed a partner to help move the mission forward. She reached out to composer and performer Steph Davis, a marimbist originally from Central Florida who joined Modern Marimba as a co-founder. From these humble beginnings, Modern Marimba has since collaborated with local Sarasota organizations such as The Newtown Nation, Westcoast Black Theater Troupe, Manasota Anti-Racism Coalition, WSLR, FabAF Foundation, WEDU PBS, Remake Learning Days, Sarasota Concert Association, Sarasota Institute of Lifetime Learning, Suncoast School for Innovative Studies, and the Bay Sarasota. Modern Marimba has received funding from grassroots donations from the working class, Florida’s Division of Arts and Culture, the Arts & Cultural Alliance of Sarasota County, the Community Foundation of Sarasota, and the Patterson Foundation.