John Reeves, Tenzin Choegyal, Kacey Patrick, Rebecca Karlen, Rafael Karlen & Andrew Veivers

Jarred Fogarty & Sam Vincent

KOORALBYN

An iterative, cross-cultural music production featuring Queensland artists Tenzin Choegyal (Tibetan musician/vocalist), Kacey Patrick (vocalist), Jarred Fogarty (didgeridoo/dance), Andrew Veivers (guitar), Rafael Karlen (saxophone), Rebecca Karlen (violin/vocalist), John Reeves (piano/piano accordion) and Samuel Vincent (double bass).

Drawing on their personal cultures and unique art forms, "Kooralbyn" features artists from across the globe including First Nation, Tibetan, Celtic and Northern European musicians. This ensemble was born from an invitation to collaborate, as artists in residence, for the the 2019 ArtsABLAZE Conference. The initial sharing of their musical traditions (flamenco, jazz, First Nation, Tibetan, African, classical), plus compositions and songs from each of their homelands (Tibet, Sweden, Holland, Britain, Australia), was a starting point for this unique collaboration. The resulting work is an exploration of the interrelatedness of their individual cultural backgrounds, expressed through the textual musical possibilities and traditions of their instruments.

Kooralbyn embraces a deconstruction of genre, of boundaries and of difference. It celebrate the interconnectedness, the reciprocity and the community that is music. Ever iterative, with different members flowing in and out of the ensemble, Kooralbyn has evolved sonically, morphing from the simple sharer of traditional tunes to an original and expansive interpreter of cultural traditions. Ancient songs are reimagined, and contemporary interpretations and new compositions are interwoven with integrity, cultural authenticity and shared expression.