Simona Smirnova
Simona Smirnova “Unapologetic” at ShapeShifter
ShapeShifter Lab
837 Union Street
Brooklyn, NY 11215
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About this concert
Simona Smirnova is a New York based composer and vocalist originally from Lithuania. A charming performer who plays an authentic Lithuanian folk zither, called kanklės and she is the only kanklės player in the United States! Simona presents this unique instrument across the globe in theaters, jazz clubs, communities and festivals. Always on the road, always charming and smiling, Simona is a true artistic soul that effervescently represents diversity and passion for arts. At ShapeShifter Lab, Simona will be performing with her band as a quartet. The show will be a mixture of alternative pop, pop, Lithuanian folk and electronic music.
Simona Smirnova – Vocals, Kanklės, Theremin
Marcelo Maccagnan – Bass
Andrew Cheng – Guitar
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Simona Smirnova Biography
Simona Smirnova is a Lithuanian born jazz vocalist, composer and kanklės player based in New York City. She’s a fixture in the New York live scene with her quartet when she’s not touring the world, including Australia, New Zealand and Europe. Smirnova’s genre-bending style has a unique theatrical flavor and uncanny vocal improvisation techniques. She deftly implements chamber music, Lithuanian zither – kanklės and folkloric chants into foundations of jazz, pop and electronic music.
Simona Smirnova have released four albums of her original music. Smirnova's debut album "A Hunger Artist" (2017) based on Franz Kafka's short story by the same title. Smirnova’s second album, Joan of Arc, for String Quartet, is an original composition written as a soundtrack for the classic Carl Dreyer silent film The Passion of Joan of Arc (1928). The album is a cinematic landscape of chamber pop, jazz and folklore. Simona's third album "Bird Language" which was released in April of 2022. The record combines jazz and Lithuanian folk music written for jazz quartet, string quartet, vocal ensemble, zither and saxophone. You can hear Simona performing her "Bird Language" act in the New York jazz scene on a regular basis.
Smirnova's latest album "Kanklės in New York" (2023) presents Lithuanian traditional zither - kanklės in two formats; an album and sheet music book. The book and album contains 14 original pieces written for kanklės solo, and kanklės and voice.
Classically trained on kanklės, Smirnova earned her BA in jazz vocals at the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theater. Shortly after receiving the European Touring Scholarship, she moved to the United States to study at Berklee College of Music where she earned a degree in Contemporary Composition and Production. Simona is a very active member of the musician community around the globe; she is an Alumna of the prestigious Berklee College of Music, a mentor at Berklee Alumni Mentorship program, she is a voting member of Grammy Recording Academy, a mentor at Grammy U program, and a composer member of New York Composers Circle (NYCC).
Read MoreSimona Smirnova have released four albums of her original music. Smirnova's debut album "A Hunger Artist" (2017) based on Franz Kafka's short story by the same title. Smirnova’s second album, Joan of Arc, for String Quartet, is an original composition written as a soundtrack for the classic Carl Dreyer silent film The Passion of Joan of Arc (1928). The album is a cinematic landscape of chamber pop, jazz and folklore. Simona's third album "Bird Language" which was released in April of 2022. The record combines jazz and Lithuanian folk music written for jazz quartet, string quartet, vocal ensemble, zither and saxophone. You can hear Simona performing her "Bird Language" act in the New York jazz scene on a regular basis.
Smirnova's latest album "Kanklės in New York" (2023) presents Lithuanian traditional zither - kanklės in two formats; an album and sheet music book. The book and album contains 14 original pieces written for kanklės solo, and kanklės and voice.
Classically trained on kanklės, Smirnova earned her BA in jazz vocals at the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theater. Shortly after receiving the European Touring Scholarship, she moved to the United States to study at Berklee College of Music where she earned a degree in Contemporary Composition and Production. Simona is a very active member of the musician community around the globe; she is an Alumna of the prestigious Berklee College of Music, a mentor at Berklee Alumni Mentorship program, she is a voting member of Grammy Recording Academy, a mentor at Grammy U program, and a composer member of New York Composers Circle (NYCC).
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