Kelly_Mayu

Kelly Thoma and Mayu Shviro met @ Labyrinth Musical Workshop on Crete and have been collaborating since 2016. They present a repertoire of contemporary modal compositions by Kelly Thoma played on cello and lyra, influenced by various musical traditions of the world and emphasising both on improvisation as well as on a creative approach of ancient sounds. Their bows are interacting in a magical dance of melodies and rhythms through their exceptional virtuosity and musicality.

Mayu Shviro (Cello)

Born in Israel of Japanese and Iraqi decent, Mayu started her studies on the cello when she was 6. She discovered modal music at the age of 18. Enchanted by the power and the beauty of these musical traditions she decided to focus on this style and begun her musical jouneys with her cello through the Arabic, Turkish and Azeri traditions.

She performs and records various kinds of styles with many ensembles and gives concerts both in Israel as well as abroad.

In the summer of 2018 she was a member of MITOS orchestra of Musical Workshop Labyrinth on Crete, Greece.

Kelly Thoma (Lyra)

Kelly Thoma has been studying the lyra with Ross Daly since 1995 and soon after started travelling with him and his group, “Labyrinth” to perform in some of the most prestigious venues and festivals around the world. She has participated in many projects with musicians from various different traditions of the world.

As a member of “Labyrinth” and the Labyrinth Musical Workshop she has had the chance to meet and play with many renowned musicians such as the Trio Chemirani, Ömer Erdoğdular, Derya Türkan , Zohar Fresco, Efrén López, Pedram Khavar Zamini, Dhruba Ghosh, Ballake Sissoko, Erdal Erzincan, Mehmet Erenler, Yurdal Tokcan, Mayu Shviro, Ustad Mohammed Rahim Khushnawaz and many more, which resulted in a unique sound and a personal style on the lyra as well as a creative approach to traditional music.She participates in most of Ross Daly’s projects and since 2008 she is a member of Tokso Folk String Quartet with Anne Hytta, Eleonore Billy and Sigrun Eng exploring and creating music inspired -amongst others- by nordic traditions.

With Ross Daly she has performed in Carnegie Hall, Theatre de la Ville, Queen Elizabeth Hall, San Francisco WMF, Rainforest WMF, Womadelaide, Rudolstadt and many other important venues and festivals around the world.

She has released three albums of her own compositions Anamkhara (2009), 7Fish (2014) and “As Τhe Winds Die Down” (2018) and has graduated from the English Literature department of the Athens University as well as from the”Rallou Manou” Dance School.