Ukrainian musician Oleksandra Makarova won a bronze award and a special distinction at the international competition Universal Marimba Competition Belgium 2026.
Oleksandra performed the competition program on the marimba. This is a percussion musical instrument that originated as a traditional folk instrument in Africa and Central America (in particular, in Guatemala and Mexico). The marimba consists of tuned wooden bars struck with sticks, and metal resonators beneath them amplify the sound.
The Ukrainian woman passed all four stages of the Belgian competition. She also received a special distinction, the Keiko Abe Award, for the best performance of a work by Japanese composer Keiko Abe.
