Collaborators
Sonya Holowell
Sonya Holowell is a Dharawal woman, vocalist, composer and writer working across new and experimental genres. The contexts for her work, and the forms they take, are diverse and deeply questioning. Her practice comprises interdisciplinary collaboration, improvisation, multi-form writing and composition. She is also a workshop facilitator; a curator of the Now Now Festival; lecturer in experimental vocal practice; and a co-founder/editor of online arts publication ADSR Zine.
Sonya’s work as a vocalist and composer has been shown on numerous platforms including Sydney Festival, Adelaide Festival, Resonant Bodies Festival, Sydney Biennale, soundSCAPE Italy, Soft Centre, Liveworks Festival, the Now Now Festival, Sydney Fringe Festival, Moorambilla Festival, The Banff Centre (Canada), Canberra International Music Festival, SoundOut Festival, and others. She has collaborated with leading new music ensembles such as the Song Company, Ensemble Offspring, International Contemporary Ensemble, Decibel and the Australian Art Orchestra, and has presented her award-winning work at venues that include the Sydney Opera House, Museum of Contemporary Art, Carriageworks, Institute of Modern Art, The Powerhouse Museum, MUMA and the National Gallery of Australia.
Adnan Baraky
Born in Swaida, Syria, Adnan’s love of music appeared at an early age playing various instruments, however, he was given his first oud at the age of fourteen. Adnan's natural talent was obvious, and in 2002 he was accepted into the prestigious Higher Conservatorium of Music in Damascus. He studied with oud masters Ali Akbar (Azerbaijan) and Samir Orabi (Syria), exploring middle-eastern, Arabic and western classical music.
Adnan was a regular soloist with the Syrian National Symphony Orchestra, performing at the orchestra's tenth anniversary concert and the opening of the Syrian Opera House in 2004.
Adnan relocated to Australia in 2008 where he released his debut album Dinaan in 2011, featuring original works for the oud that draw on both his Syrian heritage and Australian experiences. Adnan was invited to play at Australia’s largest festivals including the National Folk Festival and WOMADelaide. He currently resides in Sydney, Australia, where he is persuing his doctoral research in composition at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.
In 2014, Adnan was awarded a City of Melbourne Arts Grant to produce a new album, Syrian Orpheus, comprised of original compositions for the oud.
Marcello Maio
Marcello Maio is a musician, composer and musical director. Accomplished in piano, piano-accordion, keyboards and flute.
2013 saw Marcello on tour with Atlanta soul and r'n'b singer Cody ChesnuTT and band across Australia and New Zealand. It also led him around Australia with Baby et Lulu who feature Lara Goodridge (Fourplay) and Abby Dobson (Leonardo's Bride). With concert pianist Ambre Hammond, Marcello performed the music of Astor Piazzolla in duet format at various theatres and halls in Noosa, Byron Bay, Blue Mountains. In 2014 saw the duo perform on ‘ABC Live' at the Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre in Penrith. 2014 marked the first appearance at Womadelaide festival in Adelaide with Baby et Lulu.
Recognised as one of the Top 20 Music Performers in NSW during HSC in 2004, Marcello went on to graduate from the Sydney Conservatorium in 2008, completing a Bachelor of Music (Jazz performance) under Mike Nock, Judy Bailey and Matt McMahon.
Marcello has performed in Bangkok, Canada, West Timor, New York, Sri Lanka, Shanghai and the Gypsy Jazz festival in New Caledonia as well as a myriad of notable Australian music festivals including Woodford Folk Festival, Bellingen Global Carnival, Byron Bay Blues and Roots festival, Melbourne Comedy Festival, Noosa Jazz festival, Dreaming festival, Australian World Music Expo, Adelaide Cabaret festival and Brisbane festival.
Constantly in demand in the Sydney music scene as a side-man and as a band leader, 2014 has already seen Maio perform a concert at Angel Place (City Recital Hall) alongside Australia's premier flautist Jane Rutter, and soprano Yvonne Kenny.