Céline Bonacina

(born in Belfort, Eastern France), composer, baritone, alto and soprano saxophonist. From the age of seven, she studied music at the conservatory (Belfort, Besançon, Paris…). After gaining her music diplomas, she moved to Reunion Island. There, she wrote her first composition, inspired at the same time by the French-Vietnemian guitarist Nguyên Lê’s «Bakida» album and by the beauty of the landscapes of the island. She performed with her own band in many festivals of the Indian Ocean. Before leaving the island to return to live in France (in the countryside, in Western France), she met the musicians with whom she had engraved nine of her compositions: her debut album Vue d’en haut (“Seen from above”) was born, steeped in jazz and miscegenation of the island. Her compositions and their titles are very often related to life experiences: her return to France inspired her to compose other music again. In 2009, she won the "Tremplin Rezzo Jazz à Vienne" whose reward was to record a new album, Way of Life. This album represents a turning point in her career: she had the opportunity to invite Nguyên Lê, the musician who had so unknowingly inspired her first composition. A few months later, the German label ACT was seduced by her playing on baritone saxophone. She joined the label. While under contract, she has made her third album, Open Heart was released on the ACT label in February 2013.
Recordings: Open Heart, 2013, ACT Music; Way of Life, 2010, ACT Music; Vue d’en haut, 2006, own production, available on I Tunes.
Awards: 2013, winner of the Adami French Award; 2012, selected for the European project « Take Five Europe »; 2011, nominated Instrumental Discovery French Music Awards; 2009, winner of the Rezzo contest during Jazz à Vienne; 2007, group prize at the National Jazz competition in La Défense, France.

Contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | www.celine-bonacina.com | ACT Music: www.actmusic.com

Chiara Benati

(born in 18th July 1956, in Bologna Italy, where she lives.). She has diplomas in Composition, orchestra conducting, and Piano. Her compositions have been broadcasted by RAI, BBC and ORF and the Australian radio, and published and performed in Italy and abroad. Her most important professional events include: two radio portraits (one of them edited by Mario Bortolotto); an invitation from the Istituto Italiano di Cultura in Chicago as Pincipal Guest; an opera commissioned by the Conservatory in Adria and performed at the Teatro Comunale; three compositions commissioned by the Teatro Comunale of Bologna (one of them, for orchestra and chorus, for the “feste musicali” created  by Tito Gotti. In 2000 she began an intense collaboration with Lorna Windsor, Annamaria Morini and Stefano Malferrari, for whom she wrote several lieder cycles.
Selected works: "Crepereia Tryphaena " for soprano, acting, flute and piano (2012); "La piccola fiammiferaia" chamber opera (2005-2012); "Intermezzo" opera (2003-2004); “Il canto infinito del dottor Joseph D." for soprano, chorus, flute and piano (2009); "5 liriche da Blok" for soprano and string quartet (2007); "Pietre (antiche lapidi di Bologna)" for soprano and cello (2004); "Detti e proverbi" for soprano and flute (2003); "Credo" a 12 voci (1999) mixed choir; "Un Agnus Dei sul cantus firmus di Frye" for chorus and orchestra (1994)
Discography: 1 CD edited by TACTUS with music for voice and instruments; 1 monographic CD edited by EDIPAN with chamber music; 1 CD edited by EDIPAN with guitar music; 1 CD edited by Sonzogno with an orchestral work.

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