Novilunio with Hasmik Harutyunyan

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• published: 03 Apr 2012
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Samavesha presents Novilunio: a world music fusion project by Laura Inserra & Elizabeth Setzer with Evan Fraser (multi-instrumentalist), Briget Boyle and Janet Kutulas (vocalists from Kitka Women's Vocal Ensemble), and Armenian folk singer Hasmik Harutyunyan. Friday, March 9, 2012 8pm Subterranean Arthouse - 2179 Bancroft Way - Berkeley, CA http://www.novilunio.org Novilunio, the Italian term for 'new moon', is a world fusion music project created by multi-instrumentalist Laura Inserra and vocalist/pianist Elizabeth Setzer. Their music combines traditional folk songs from the Balkans and Caucasus region with original compositions and improvised elements. Most of the instruments played belong to various ancient traditions from around the world, while others are contemporary inventions. The concert will feature guest musicians Evan Fraser (multi-instrumentalist from Hamsa Lila and Stella Mara), Briget Boyle, and Janet Kutulas (singers from Kitka Women's Vocal Ensemble). Laura Inserra is a vibrant and talented composer, multi-instrumentalist, teacher and artistic director. She is a classically trained musician with a strong improvisational background who utilizes multiple musical and performance skills. A native of Sicily, her work in Italy is well- known, including integral participation in the composition of numerous movie scores and the artistic direction of innovative live productions. In 2007, Inserra founded SAMAVESHA, an international non-profit multidisciplinary performing art organization. Audiences worldwide are mesmerized by her musical virtuosity and captivated by the passion she brings to the stage. http://www.laurainserra.com Elizabeth Setzer is an American musician, she received the BA in music at Mills College in Oakland, CA. Elizabeth studied Bulgarian folk singing with Svetla Stanilova at the Academy of Music in Plovdiv, Bulgaria on a Fulbright grant for one year. During this time she performed with the Phillipopoly Folk Ensemble, and studied the tambura with Vladimir Vladimirov. In January 2009 she began to sing with KITKA Women's Vocal Ensemble in Oakland, California, and now she is the group's Music Director. http://www.kitka.org Evan Fraser is a multi-instrumentalist, performer and recording artist currently based in the Bay Area. Evan graduated from CalArts in LA with a BFA degree in World Music. His teachers include: John Bergamo, Randy Gloss, Alfred & Kobla Ladzekpo, Sulley Imoro, Nyomen Wenton, Jim Santi Owen, Mark Growden, Hamsa Lila, Mamadou Sidibe & Yakouba Diarra. Some of the instruments Evan plays are: electric kalimba, mbira, marimbula (bass kalimba), kalimbas in different keys, jaw harp, (jew's harp, mouth harp) in all keys from many different countries, frame drums, berimbau, pandeiro, dumbek, zabumba (bass drum), calabash, and anything else he can get his hands on! http://www.reverbnation.com/evanfraser Prior to joining Kitka in 2004, Briget Boyle attended the College of Santa Fe as a Music Performance and Composition major. Currently she performs with Kitka, the award-winning Balkan brass band Brass Menažeri, and True Life Trio. In 2006 and 2007, she was the Assistant Director of the Jewish Music Festival in Berkeley and is now working as Kitka's Ensemble Manager. http://www.kitka.org Janet Kutulas had a former career as a freelance flutist in the San Francisco and Chicago areas, playing in the EARPLAY New Music Ensemble, California Symphony, Berkeley Symphony, SF Symphony's New and Unusual Music Series, Civic Orchestra of Chicago, Illinois Philharmonic, and other groups. She has been a Kitka singer since 1988, and was a music director of the group from 1997 - 2010. http://www.kitka.org Hasmik Harutyunyan was born in Yerevan, Armenia. Hasmik graduated from a music institute and pedagogical university, in vocal and physics/mathematics departments. She was a long-time soloist in the Armenian National Radio's Akunq Folk Ensemble and is now soloist for Yerevan's Shoghaken Folk Ensemble. Hasmik has recorded several CDs, for Traditional Crossroads and Face Music (Switzerland), in which folk music from different regions of Historic Armenia are presented. Her purpose is for this music to be preserved, passed on to coming generations, and presented across the world. Her recording "Armenian Lullabies: Hasmik Harutyunyan with the Shoghaken Ensemble" was recognized by the New York Times as the best Armenian recording worldwide. For Hasmik, music is life itself — its happiness, sadness, and struggle. She feels it is her responsibility to keep traditional Armenian music alive, and to keep it free from foreign influence. She believes Armenian music is a living thing, not meant for history books. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13D2mKG8cLo