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Meraki Duo
Truly an outstanding concert. The mastery of their instruments is a given, their musicianship is exceptional... The experience is breathtaking, beautiful and inspiring.
“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
Guastavino – La rosa y el sauce
Jobim – Luiza
Messiaen – 5 Leçons de solfège
Piazzolla – Histoire du Tango
H Pascoal – Misturada; O Ôvo
Rodgers – It Never Entered My Mind
Schubert – Arpeggione Sonata
A Scott – Nemesis; Paquito; Fujiko
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
The Meraki Duo’s programmes offer a distinctively diverse pairing of flute and guitar, incorporating James Girling’s arrangements of works from Messiaen’s 5 Leçons de solfège and the Brazilian folk-fusion of Hermeto Pascoal to jazz standards. In their recitals, Meera Maharaj extends the expressive range of the duo by featuring the alto flute in works such as Takemitsu’s 'Toward The Sea' and Tadić’s '4 Macedonian Pieces'. Meera and James both studied at the Royal Northern College of Music, where they connected through a shared passion for chamber music, jazz, Latin American and European folk, and contemporary works. Formed in 2013, Meraki Duo were selected for International Guitar Foundation’s Young Artist Platform 2019-20. In 2019, they were finalists in the Royal Over-Seas League Competition in London. They enjoy performing concerts from Northumberland to Cornwall and at venues such as Wigmore Hall, Kings Place and the Bridgewater Hall. They have been Live Music Now artists since 2018.
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 Royal Northern College of Music (first class honours), studying with Wissam Boustany and Laura Jellicoe. Meera has played at the Southbank Centre, Wigmore Hall, Kings Place and Royal Albert Hall at the BBC Proms. She is Co-principal Flute of Chineke! Orchestra.
James Girling is a versatile guitarist working internationally. He was tutored by Craig Ogden at the Royal Northern College of Music, where he is now an Associate Member, 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 Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra’s Ensemble 10:10. As soloist, he made his Wigmore Hall debut in 2017 and has since performed Rodrigo’s guitar concertos alongside orchestras across England. Also strongly influenced by music traditions rooted in improvisation, he is a Jazz North alumnus, and tours and records across a range of styles including with Prohibition-era jazz septet The Easy Rollers and Afrobeat/Ethiojazz-inspired 11-piece Agbeko.
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