Meraki Duo
Meera Maharaj - flute
James Girling – guitar
Meraki – “Doing something you love with all your creativity, soul and passion”
Formed in 2013, Meraki Duo enjoys exploring the diversity of repertoire available to the flute-guitar pairing while contributing new arrangements of their own. Meera Maharaj (flute) and James Girling (guitar) both studied at the RNCM, sharing a passion for chamber music that extends to jazz, Latin American and European folk, and works by contemporary composers. They love performing in a wide variety of contexts and venues; recently, these have included King’s Place for London Guitar Festival, Swaledale Festival, St James’s Church in Piccadilly, Manchester Cathedral, and the Bridgewater Hall as part of Craig Ogden’s Guitar Weekend. They regularly perform for recital series in venues spanning from Cumbria to Cornwall. In 2019, they advanced to the final of the Royal Over-Seas League Competition (Mixed Ensembles category) in London. Meraki Duo have been selected onto the International Guitar Foundation’s Young Artist Platform for 2019/20.
Alongside their concert schedule, they endeavour to bring performances into the wider community. They are Live Music Now artists and often give workshops in schools across the country, exploring music through storytelling. Additionally, they have enjoyed giving concerts at Wigmore Hall in partnership with the Wigmore Learning programme.
Meera Maharaj graduated from the Royal Academy of Music with a Distinction in her Masters, studying with Michael Cox. She gained her BMus from RNCM with first class honours, having studied with Wissam Boustany and Laura Jellicoe. Previously, she spent six years at the Junior RNCM. She won first prize in the RAM Flute Competition and Dutch International Flute Competition as well as 3rd prize in the British Flute Society “Young Artist”Competition. Meera is currently a Tunnell Trust, Park Lane Group and Countess of Munster Recital Scheme artist with her other duo partner – pianist Dominic Degavino. She plays with the Pro Youth Philharmonia and previously was on the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra’s Professional Experience Scheme.
James Girling graduated from RNCM with Master’s (Distinction) and Bachelor’s (first-class honours) degrees. He was tutored by classical guitarist Craig Ogden, and concurrently studied jazz with pianist Dan Whieldon. James won the RNCM Gold Medal, consequently giving his debut Wigmore Hall solo recital.He has performed with the Hallé Orchestra and RLPO’s Ensemble 10/10, and made his Concierto de Aranjuezdebut in 2019. James has been awarded the Biddy Baxter & John Hosier Music Trust’s Special Award, Principal’s Prize for Jazz Improvisation, and Help Musicians UK Postgraduate Awards. Alongside his classical recital career, James also performs around UK and Europe in a diversity of ensembles including Afrobeat/Ethiojazz-inspired 11-piece Agbeko, his ownjazz quintet Artephis, andswing-era septet The Easy Rollers.
Link to James' Website:
www.jamesgirlingmusic.com
Meera Maharaj - flute
James Girling – guitar
Meraki – “Doing something you love with all your creativity, soul and passion”
Formed in 2013, Meraki Duo enjoys exploring the diversity of repertoire available to the flute-guitar pairing while contributing new arrangements of their own. Meera Maharaj (flute) and James Girling (guitar) both studied at the RNCM, sharing a passion for chamber music that extends to jazz, Latin American and European folk, and works by contemporary composers. They love performing in a wide variety of contexts and venues; recently, these have included King’s Place for London Guitar Festival, Swaledale Festival, St James’s Church in Piccadilly, Manchester Cathedral, and the Bridgewater Hall as part of Craig Ogden’s Guitar Weekend. They regularly perform for recital series in venues spanning from Cumbria to Cornwall. In 2019, they advanced to the final of the Royal Over-Seas League Competition (Mixed Ensembles category) in London. Meraki Duo have been selected onto the International Guitar Foundation’s Young Artist Platform for 2019/20.
Alongside their concert schedule, they endeavour to bring performances into the wider community. They are Live Music Now artists and often give workshops in schools across the country, exploring music through storytelling. Additionally, they have enjoyed giving concerts at Wigmore Hall in partnership with the Wigmore Learning programme.
Meera Maharaj graduated from the Royal Academy of Music with a Distinction in her Masters, studying with Michael Cox. She gained her BMus from RNCM with first class honours, having studied with Wissam Boustany and Laura Jellicoe. Previously, she spent six years at the Junior RNCM. She won first prize in the RAM Flute Competition and Dutch International Flute Competition as well as 3rd prize in the British Flute Society “Young Artist”Competition. Meera is currently a Tunnell Trust, Park Lane Group and Countess of Munster Recital Scheme artist with her other duo partner – pianist Dominic Degavino. She plays with the Pro Youth Philharmonia and previously was on the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra’s Professional Experience Scheme.
James Girling graduated from RNCM with Master’s (Distinction) and Bachelor’s (first-class honours) degrees. He was tutored by classical guitarist Craig Ogden, and concurrently studied jazz with pianist Dan Whieldon. James won the RNCM Gold Medal, consequently giving his debut Wigmore Hall solo recital.He has performed with the Hallé Orchestra and RLPO’s Ensemble 10/10, and made his Concierto de Aranjuezdebut in 2019. James has been awarded the Biddy Baxter & John Hosier Music Trust’s Special Award, Principal’s Prize for Jazz Improvisation, and Help Musicians UK Postgraduate Awards. Alongside his classical recital career, James also performs around UK and Europe in a diversity of ensembles including Afrobeat/Ethiojazz-inspired 11-piece Agbeko, his ownjazz quintet Artephis, andswing-era septet The Easy Rollers.
Link to James' Website:
www.jamesgirlingmusic.com
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