Ria Soemardjo
Ria Soemardjo has established herself in Australia as a unique voice in the world music scene.
Born in Melbourne of Australian/Indonesian descent, Ria draws on her deep respect for the Javanese musical tradition in her song-writing and collaborative projects.
She is the only female performer in Australia of the central Javanese vocal tradition.
Ria has been funded by the Australia Council and Ian Potter Cultural Trust to undertake several study projects in India and Indonesia.
Ria's distinctive vocal style and ability to absorb a diverse range of musical influences have led to regular collaborations with other performers and composers, including Anne Norman (on the wings of a butterfly compilation CD), Adrian Sheriff, , the Grand Union Orchestra, She has also released a solo album 'Sift' - featuring traditional and original pieces.
Ria currently performs in trio - ‘Fine Blue Thread’ with Helen Mountfort on baroque cello and Sam Evans on tabla, and is set to release a new album of original compositions in January 2009.
Recent performing highlights include the Melbourne and Sydney Spiegel Tent, Singapore Performing Arts Showcase and the Biwako Biennale (Japan) 2007 with the Tony Yap Company.
Ria has been a featured artist at the Melbourne Festival in 2006 and 2007 and her performances at the Iwaki auditorium have been broadcast on Radio National 'Music Deli' shows.
Artists Website
www.finebluethread.com
