Laone Thekiso
Laone Thekiso composes, performs, and teaches an eclectic combination of music that includes African (Zimbabwean) marimba, contemporary and jazz piano, improvisation, aspects of composition, and creative approaches to music theory. He runs a Youtube channel that spotlights marimba performances, demonstrations, and educational content. His expertise in teaching prominently features Zimbabwean marimba music – a genre in which he is a prolific composer and arranger.
As a composer, Laone’s marimba compositions synthesize the rich cultural tradition of Zimbabwean marimba music learned in his younger years with his Botswana heritage, contemporary musical language and western forms. He believes in innovative approaches to indigenous music in order to keep traditional music alive and evolving.
He holds a degree in music composition from Williams College in Massachusetts. As a marimba band leader and educator, his groups have performed at US venues in the North-east, Pacific North-west, and Northern California, in addition to Botswana, South Africa, and Sweden.
As a pianist, Laone plays with the Grow to Black Collective, a jazz fusion ensemble he founded in 2019, which dedicates itself to playing original music that explores a multitude of musical styles through a combination of prepared structures and improvisation.