Directory
Meraki Duo - flute & guitar
“The Duo captured me immediately with their effortless virtuosity and poised presentation. […] A revelation, both the program and the aplomb with which it was presented." - P.Westbrook review “[They] owned the stage with an engaging mix of youthful enthusiasm and seasoned confidence […] playing with perfect alignment and assurance, yet seemingly effortlessly.” - M. Shaw review
“Virtuoso musicians who have a deep understanding of many musical styles. I have booked them for concerts and they have always been highly organised and prepared pre-, during and post- concert. Audiences love them, and their programming is imaginative and thoughtful.”
Duo - Instrumental
Instrumentation
- Meera Maharaj - Flute
- James Girling - Guitar
Repertoire
Dvořák – Sonatina Op. 100
M Arcaro – À Norte, Rio Preto
Liebermann - Sonata Op 25
Bacharach – A House Is Not a Home
Bartók – Romanian Folk Dances
Castelnuovo-Tedesco – Sonatina
Corea – Children's Songs Nos 3, 6 & 7; Spain
Falla – Suite populaire espagnole
Jobim – Luiza
Dominique Le Gendre: Songs & Dances From The Islands Suite No.1
Messiaen – 5 Leçons de solfège
Piazzolla – Histoire du Tango
H Pascoal – Misturada; O Ôvo; Bebê
Schubert – Arpeggione Sonata
A Scott – Nemesis; Paquito
Grant Still – Three Songs
M Tadić – Four Macedonian Pieces
Takemitsu – Toward the Sea
Villa-Lobos – Bachiana Brasileira No 5
J Zenamon – Reflexões No 6
Gismonti - Agua e vinho
Biography
Winners of the International Chamber Music Competition for Flute & Guitar in Spain (2023), Meraki Duo have spent the past decade performing extensively in the UK with programmes which offer a distinctively diverse pairing of flute and guitar. In 2020 at London's 1901 Arts Club, Meraki Duo premièred their first substantial commission: À Norte, Rio Preto by fast-rising Brazilian composer Rafael Marino Arcaro. In their recitals, flautist Meera Maharaj extends the expressive range of the duo by featuring the alto flute in works such as Debussy’s ‘Beau Soir’, Takemitsu’s Toward The Sea and Miroslav Tadic’s Four Macedonian Pieces. They incorporate James Girling's arrangements of music spanning as widely as Messiaen’s wordless songs, Burt Bacharach, and Brazilian folk-jazz of Hermeto Pascoal.
Meera Maharaj and James Girling both studied at the Royal Northern College of Music, where they quickly connected through a shared passion for chamber music, jazz, Latin American styles, and contemporary works. Formed in 2013, Meraki Duo have since performed year-round for recital series from Northumberland to Cornwall, at venues such as Wigmore Hall and Kings Place, and festivals including Buxton International Festival, Swaledale Festival and London Guitar Festival. Meraki Duo were selected onto International Guitar Foundation’s Young Artist Platform for 2020. In 2019, they were finalists in the Royal Over-Seas League Competition in London.
Meera Maharaj is currently a Countess of Munster Recital Scheme artist alongside pianist Dominic Degavino. Competition successes include first prize in the Royal Academy of Music Flute Competition and Dutch International Flute Competition and 3rd prize in the British Flute Society Competition. She graduated with Distinction in her Masters, studying with Michael Cox at the Royal Academy of Music. In 2017, she graduated from the RNCM, studying with Wissam Boustany and Laura Jellicoe. Meera has played at the Southbank Centre and Royal Albert Hall at the BBC Proms.
James Girling is a versatile guitarist working internationally. He was tutored by Craig Ogden at RNCM, where he is now an Associate Artist, and won RNCM’s Gold Medal award. James has headlined festivals, recorded, and been broadcast live on Radio 3, playing with the BBC Philharmonic, Hallé Orchestra, and RLPO’s Ensemble 10:10. He is the guitarist on Delphian Records newly released album with Lotte Betts-Dean (2024 RPS Young Artist Winner) and Ligeti Quartet.
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