Biography
The exquisite Sunwrae Ensemble was founded during 2001 in Melbourne Australia. Showcasing some of Australia's finest versatile musicians, the unique and flexible line-up includes piano, vibraphone, string quartet, harp, clarinets, alto flute, lap-steel guitar, double bass, drum-set and percussion.
Dynamic, engaging and visually stimulating, Sunwrae stylishly captivate audiences, performing instrumental music by Artistic Director Rae Howell, textured with persuasive rhythms and spectacular improvisation!
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Described as "Animated and energetic..." (Thomas Reiner, Music Forum 2007) and "Hypnotically beautiful with a flowing cinematic feel..." (Jessica Nicholas, The Age 2006), one of the world's premier nu chamber groups feature a repertoire of solo works to large ensemble arrangements, performing a lush blend of melodic phrases and interweaving rhythms.
Sunwrae Album releases include Never Stops to Wait (2005), funded by Arts Victoria and the Australia Council, several Live CDs & DVDs from the Eavesdropping Concert & Art Exhibition Series (2003-2007) and Autumn Never Fall, a new studio album due for release in 2009. Festival appearances by the nu chamber group include Apollo Bay Festival, Bright Spring Festival (VIC), SxSW Festival (Austin TX) and Golden Plains Festival (VIC). A Live National Broadcast on ABC Classic FM’s Sunday Live and ABC TV’s Sunday Arts paved the way for their 2007 National Tour, followed by a highly acclaimed performance at the Famous International Spiegeltent in Melbourne.
Artistic Director and leader of the Sunwrae Ensemble, Rae Howell, is a freelance composer and performer on piano & vibraphone. A graduate of Melbourne University's Conservatorium, Howell performs as a guest multiinstrumentalist (also on brass, vocals & percussion), crossing a vast range of musical genres in live performance, recording and international touring. In addition to Sunwrae, Howell works with Australian Puppet Theatre Company Peepshow Inc, Improvised Dance Ensemble State of Flux, and numerous film and mixed-media projects. A finalist in the 2006 APRA Professional Development Awards Howell is the only Australian represented composer of Cantilena Music in London, UK.
Howell’s international collaborations include commissions from the ARENA International Theatre Festival in Germany, and has been Musician in Residence at The Banff Centre in Alberta Canada, and The Atlantic Center for the Arts in Florida USA. She has worked with Jazz Hall of Fame musician Sam Rivers (USA), Royal Society of Arts Fellow and composer/percussionist Eugene Skeef (Sth Africa/UK) and works currently with electronic recording engineer Jon Cohrs (NY, USA), in 'Rabbits without Spleens'.
More info: www.sunwrae.com
Biography text from Last.fm, available under CC BY-SA.