Dual ARIA winning world/jazz ensemble Mara!
and the Martenitsa Choir launched their long-awaited album ‘Za Vas Ot Nas’ (For
You From Us) in Sydney at a sold out concert at Marrickville’s iconic Camelot Lounge on Friday 28 November
2025. This was one of three NSW launch events, the other two being the Bundanoon Folk Festival and a special afternoon concert in Newcastle's Hamilton Uniting Church.
At all three events, audiences were treated to a feast of lush vocals, virtuosic musicianship and blistering solos in a program stunningly unique and original compositions.
Fronting the choir was Martenitsa’s extraordinary soloist Silvia Entcheva (Le Mystère des Voix Bulgares, MARA! Big Band, Doch Gypsy Orchestra), along with Mara! band’s Sandy Evans, Paul Cutlan, Lloyd Swanton, Llew Kiek and, of course, Mara.
The album celebrates 30 years of performing,
recording and touring together as a combined ensemble, and features previously
unreleased recordings of compositions and arrangements written especially for
them by Mara! Band members and colleagues.
The repertoire includes works by Sandy Evans,
Paul Cutlan, Laura Bishop and Llew & Mara Kiek. Two stunning works by Sandy
Evans, Sъlzata na Klouna (Teardrop of a Clown) and Evkaliptov Sъn (Eucalyptus Dream) feature
profoundly introspective lyrics
by Bulgarian Australian poet Marcia Malinova-Anthony, and a third, Peperuda I Gъsenitsa (Butterfly and Caterpillar)
showcases a delightfully playful poem by Silvia Entcheva. Her gently reflective
poem Sbъdna Se (It Came True) is beautifully expressed in a lyrical
miniature by Paul Cutlan.
It also includes two remarkable compositions by Laura Bishop (Chaika,
London Bulgarian Choir), a wonderful young composer, arranger, performer and
conductor who has been a cherished member of Martenitsa choir for many years.
Her two stunning pieces Maika I Sin (Mother and Son) and Razdyala
(Parting) both feature poetry by Stefan Kozuharov, who was a long-term friend
and patron of Martenitsa and whose work features in our landmark suite Sezoni.
The album also features new arrangements of traditional Bulgarian songs (Sitno
Hodi Nedo; Dimitro, Sino Dimitro & Devoiko Mari Hubava) by
MARA! and Martenitsa’s multi award-winning directors Mara & Llew Kiek who
have been arranging and composing music for both ensembles since their
inception (including Sezoni suite, Tra Parole e Silenzio and Mara
Kiek’s moving work Kъm Neizvestnoto for MARA! band with symphony
orchestra, SATB choir and Bulgarian soloists.
Za Vas Ot Nas Artists:
§ MARA!
Quintet: Sandy Evans (saxophones); Paul Cutlan (clarinets & saxophone),
Lloyd Swanton (double bass), Llew Kiek (plucked strings) & Mara (voice
& percussion)
§ Martenitsa
Choir with soloist Silvia Entcheva
Copies of 'Za Vas Ot Nas' CD (along with any other CDs in our catalogue) can be purchased direct from Mara Music. Simply email admin@maramusic.com.au to place your order and arrange payment (including delivery details) and CDs will be sent to you via Australia Post.
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