Mandalele

Mandalélé is the collaborative creation of three singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist women; Lorraine Duisit (former member of Trapezoid), Frances Miller, and Wendi Sirat. This lively trio blends three-part harmonies with sparkling strings and toe-tappin' rhythms to create music infused with a potpourri of global traditions and inspiration from the Appalachian mountains where the band was formed. Their spirited sound breathes life into rich lyrical images that touch the soul, bringing audiences along on a journey that travels from valleys of deep introspection to promontory reflections on the beauty of nature and joyful expressions of life.

Lorraine Duisit is best known as a long-time member of Trapezoid, the internationally-celebrated modern folk group founded by composer/arranger Paul Reisler. The Washington Post hailed her as "a respected mandolinist and an enchanting lead singer; a writer of songs that sneak up out of old traditions and surprise you with new twists." Her music has been featured on All Things Considered, A Prairie Home Companion, and Voice of America and published in Sing Out! magazine and Mandolin World News. She has recorded and performed with a wide range of acclaimed artists including Howard Levy, John McCutcheon, and Holly Near. Upon the release of her solo debut Hawks and Herons, Billboard applauded the album's "ethereal vocals, acoustic instruments, and intriguing melodies that mix folk, jazz, pop, and other strains ..." and recognized her as "... an impressively original talent." See also http://www.myspace.com/lorraineduisit

Frances Miller is a passionate improvisationalist, singer-songwriter, and classically-trained musician. Her creative inspirations draw upon her strong musical upbringing combined with a childhood split between living in rural villages of East Africa and among the Mennonite community of South Central PA where she currently resides. She has recorded and performed with Grammy-nominated cellist David Darling and studied North Indian classical music with Humayun Khan. Frances has recorded and released three solo CDs (Water Song, Full Circle, and River of Tears) and collaborated with Jay Lapp on the movie soundtrack for Pearl Diver. Frances is a graduate of David Darling's Music for People four-year Musicianship and Leadership Program and is a certified facilitator for improvisational music events. She believes in the power of music to restore balance in both individuals and community, as well as to connect us with the earth and the raw elements of our lives. See also http://www.francesmiller.net/

Wendi Sirat is an emerging singer-songwriter who took up the ukulele while living on the Big Island of Hawai'i, a magical place that inspires much of her music. She also plays the Shruti box and a wide variety of percussion instruments. She is the longtime musical director of A Thousand Faces (formerly known as Friends of Gaia), the masked theater group founded and created by Peggy Schadler. She is a trained drum circle facilitator and facilitates rhythm-based events for children's programs, community groups, and women's gatherings.