Bio

Asaran Earth Trio is an all-female multinational group of virtuosic musicians and educators. Together they perform folk songs from around the globe as well as original compositions, uniquely arranged for voice and percussion. Their music honors their roots while simultaneously reveling in improvisations and contemporary harmonies.

Asaran’s debut album, Why Should Your Heart Not Dance, features songs from nine countries in as many different languages. The title track is Boccato’s original composition, which features poetry based on C.S.Lewis’ writing and rhythmic elements that combine Brazilian grooves with Bulgarian odd meters. The recording was hailed by renowned World Music critics for its “outstandingly expressive vocals” (World Music Central),  “spectacular harmonies” and “real vocal prowess” (Songlines). 

Since its founding in 2015, Asaran Earth Trio has performed throughout Europe at festivals and venues such as Murszene Festival in Austria, Ördögkatlan, Művészetek Völgye and Babelsound Festivals in Hungary, the Crescendo and Labin Jazz Festivals in Croatia, and the Peperoncino Jazz Festival in Italy, to name a few. In the United States, they have performed at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Hall, the International Chopin and Friends Festival in Brooklyn, NY; Cornelia Street Cafe and the first edition of the Peace Summit in NYC, as well as at Club Passim in Cambridge, MA, the Robin Theater in Lansing, MI, the Foundry Hall in South Haven, MI, and Real Art Ways in Hartford, CT.

As a group of dedicated educators, Asaran frequently gives workshops, helping participants find their true musical voices through the learning of ancient melodies and rhythms, and the joy of creating new ones, experimenting and improvising together. With the help of traditional instruments such as the Brazilian zabumba and pandeiro, the Colombian maracas, and the most ancient instrument – the human voice, the trio transforms groups of former strangers into instant musical families, breaking down barriers and holding space for friendship, creativity and unity.

Founded upon a common dream of building communities through music, they sing, clap, play percussion and are known to cause audiences to laugh, cry, sing, dance and shake some groovy shakers. They love to share their music and stories all around the Earth – in festivals, living rooms, theaters. No place is too small or too big for them to fill with their presence.

13-F12_5322

Anne Boccato is a vocalist, composer, pianist and percussionist born and raised in São Paulo, Brazil. She studied jazz piano at the State University of New York – Purchase College, and began pursuing voice when an injury kept her from playing piano for some time. Through a long rehabilitation process, Anne discovered her passion for “musical wellness”, bringing it to bear on all aspects of her playing and singing. She loves creating strong, energetic grooves while maintaining a feeling of ease and gentle strength, no matter how complex the music may seem on paper.

Anne has been living in the United States for over 10 years – immersed in the arts scene in New York City, teaching piano lessons and performing her own music, as well as collaborating with some wonderful musicians. She founded Asaran Earth Trio out of a desire to reach into our collective history found in tradition, while bringing different influences together to continue writing our stories into the future.

Her aim is to connect people to themselves and to each other through her compositions, be they instrumental or songs sung in Portuguese, English or Spanish. Her love of languages is matched only by her love of watching her students go “aha!” and smile with satisfaction.

F12_2723

Artemisz Polonyi is a singer and composer deeply immersed in jazz, folk, and choral music.

She fell in love with singing harmonies (her favorite being the middle voice) during her childhood in Hungary, when she was surrounded by the Kodaly tradition, singing folk songs and choral music.

Currently living in New York City, she gets a kick out of bringing various styles and musical traditions together in her performing and teaching.

These days she mostly sings the highest notes with the professional chorus of Brick Presbyterian Church of NYC, and the Composers/Conductors Choral Collective. She can also be seen singing and playing percussion with her beloved world music group: Asaran Earth Trio.

Artemisz has been pursuing her passion for teaching by leading her voice studio for more than a decade. In her voice and musicianship classes she enjoys helping students find their own  unique, beautifully fearless voices.

She considers herself very lucky to be able to bring music and the joy of singing to the public schools of New York City through the Musical Introduction program of the 92Y, and the Students Compose Opera program of the Metropolitan Opera Guild.

Lorena del Mar is a vocalist, composer and improviser born in Madrid, Spain. She studied classical piano in her youth and once she discovered jazz music, her passion for vocal music arose. She obtained a bachelor and masters degree at the Royal Conservatorium of The Hague (The Netherlands) in Jazz Vocals. It was during this period that she met one of her singing sisters, Artemisz. They would cross paths again in New York for two years where they wrote and performed music together.

Lorena has always been open to discovering new styles as she believes there’s always something new to learn from or give to each music: pop, jazz, afrocuban, improvised, ambient, traditional, choral, electronic, folk among others. She is the lead vocalist of the Spanish folk group Sammy Jankis, the indie jazz group The Delegation,  the improvised electronic duo Lor in Pravena and is currently working on a solo looping project. Aside from performing, Lorena is a passionate voice teacher who believes that singing and improvisation are powerful soul-healing tools.