Várallyay Petra: Circles in Motion

Petra Várallyay’s solo project, *Circles in Motion*, draws inspiration from both the cycles of nature and Eastern martial arts. In this musical work, centred on the themes of being in motion and cyclicality, live looping plays a key role, boldly experimenting with the possibilities of polyphonic choral textures and orchestral sounds. Modal improvisation, Balkan asymmetry and South Indian Carnatic music all contribute to the distinctive soundscape, which comes to life on stage in close harmony with Petra’s playing.

Petra Várallyay studied jazz piano, jazz singing, classical violin and jazz composition at the Bartók Conservatoire in Budapest, the Liszt Academy of Music and the jazz department of the Conservatorium Maastricht in the Netherlands. As both a composer and a performer, she is equally at home at cult venues on the underground music scene as she is on the stages of the most prestigious concert halls; she has worked with Bobby McFerrin and Yo-Yo Ma, and has performed at numerous festivals both at home and abroad, exploring a wide spectrum of genres. In recent years, he has received the Orszáczky Prize, the Junior Artisjus and Junior Prima prizes, and the Creative Art Prize. With his progressive fusion jazz trio, formed in 2014, he has garnered several international accolades; their album *Deadline Haze* won the Audience Award at the Independent Music Awards (USA), established to recognise independent performers and creators.