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"Ken and Julie: love, energy, songwriting talent, two great and diverse voices... the pure talent of DeAngelis and Ziavras combine to generate some real gems, sparkling with energy and life." (Cindy Hill, CDReviews.com)
Singer/songwriter Ken DeAngelis and soprano Julie Ziavras present acoustic, original, contemporary folk music with story telling, thought provoking lyrics, rich harmonies, and a strong repertoire of contemporary and traditional folk covers. They appear either as a duo or as Ken and Julie & the Eclectic Folk Project with up to six additional players including; bass, cello mandolin, flute, piano and hand percussion, adding depth and diversity to their sound.
Ken and Julie's CD "The Dream" features 16 of Ken's original songs. The music and lyrics tell stories, often describing personal experiences, and reviewers have described them as "personal, yet universal in scope, poignant and heartfelt." The songs focus on critical events in people's lives; events that will end in tragedy or growth, taking listeners through an emotional journey. Ken and Julie perform these songs as a beautiful and lyrical story of life.
"Together they make wonderfully detailed music that features evocative lyrics, lovely harmonies and melodies that stay with you long after you hear them." (Steve Israel, Times Herald Record)
Ken and Julie have appeared in concert and at folk venues throughout the Hudson Valley, NY, the New York metropolitan area and their music is heard internationally. Appearances include: The Puffin Cultural Forum, Bodles Opera House, Howland Center, Paramount Theater, Arden House, The Riverfest, Grand Montgomery Chamber Music Series, Lycian Theater, Mohonk Mountain House, Storm King Arts Center, The Seelig Theater at Sullivan County Community College, Warwick Valley Winery, Donnell Library, NYC, New Rochelle Public Library, Merkin Hall, NYC, Union Hall Coffeehouse, MA, American Cancer Society fund-raiser, Washington, DC, the Year of the Rabbit, MD, the Girdwood Folk Festival, Alaska and the Friends of Music Mansion Series. Their music has been heard on webcasts with The Art Music Coffeehouse, RelaxRadio, Perth, Australia and on Ellopia TV in Greece.
Ken and Julie completed a concert tour with Broadway Concerts Direct, for which they performed their music in theaters in six cities in Nova Scotia. Their music was chosen to be part of a compilation album entitled "Protest Songs for a Better World, Vol. II" which receives worldwide airplay. The Dream" is part of the distinguished Peace Autograph Project collection at the International Museum of Peace and Solidarity in the Republic of Uzbekistan. Ken and Julie have been recipients of the New York State Council of the Arts Grants.
Singer/songwriter Ken DeAngelis, studied music, accordion and songwriting at an early age, teaching himself guitar and harmonica. His original songs incorporate his unique guitar flat and fingerpicking styles. "DeAngelis demonstrates remarkable breadth and technical skill, avoiding the rote sameness that many singer-songwriters fall into…the keys and chord progressions vary widely, with themes and pace running from the silly to the sublime," (Cindy Hill, CDReviews.com) making his music expressive, "vivid and riveting." (Richard Ross, The River Reporter) Ken has been featured on radio, television, at numerous song festivals and has won awards at song competitions. Selections of his original songs were arranged for SATB chorus and performed by composer/conductor Charles Osborne. He has performed with the " Fast Folk" organization of NYC and has shared the stage with prominent artists in the folk scene such as Pete Seeger, John Gorka, Cliff Eberhardt, Artie and Happy Traum, Richard Schindell, blues artist Savoy Brown, among others.
Ken & Julie Main Page Hear our music Calendar Press Kit: photos, bios, reviews Contact / Booking Ken & Julie Buy our CD "The Dream" Julie's Greek site Julie's Classical site Links Guestbook| Soprano Julie Ziavras, is known for her diversity of repertory and styles and her ability to infuse a classical technique with the popular and folk genres. She has been featured as both a folk and classical singer in concert, radio and television in the U.S. and abroad in a repertory ranging from opera and traditional folk, to Greek and international ballads. She holds both bachelor and master's degrees in voice from the Manhattan School of Music. A New York Times reviewer described her as "an estimable vocalist with a silvery voice…cradling her guitar, Miss Ziavras sang a variety of Greek numbers , plaintive to rhythmic, then rounded out the set with a group of English folk ballads…she held the spotlight alone." Dr. James Cotter of the Times Herald Record said that "Soprano Julie Ziavras masters the most difficult instrument, wowing her Montgomery listeners with her warm and compelling voice, appealing presence and wide range of repertoire… pour(ing) her full energy into each number with virtuosity and verve." |
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REVIEWS: "...DeAngelis demonstrates remarkable breadth and technical skill, avoiding the rote sameness that many singer-songwriters fall into when stacking one composition after another. The keys and chord progressions vary widely, with themes and pace running from the silly (like ‘Civil Defense Drill,’ a tongue-in-cheek fond remembrance of those childhood under-the-desk exercises those of us over 40 all recall) to the sublime. Ziavras’ classically trained soprano rings particularly true on DeAngelis’ aching ballads like ‘Great Neck Farewell,’ yet blends well with DeAngelis’ folky alto in vocally complex weaves on ‘Timber Wolf.’ ...all the elements are here for a highly successful folk music future for Ken and Julie: love, energy, songwriting talent, two great and diverse voices, and a community of talented musical friends ready to jump in and fill out the sound. ...the folk world should keep a weather eye open for DeAngelis’ future compositions; he may well become the rudder for the next generation of contemporary American folk songwriters." -Cindy Hill, CDReviews.com |
"...when they took the stage together, in short - it was magic." -Restoration Coffeehouse |
"Together they make wonderfully detailed music that features evocative lyrics, lovely harmonies and melodies that stay with you long after you hear them." -Steve Israel, The Times Herald Record |
"Songs for an artistic experience" -Sandy Tomcho, The Times Herald Record |
"...acoustic folk with engaging musical composition, and sincere, heratfelt lyrics delivered with sensitivity. Reminiscent of the musical stylings of Peter, Paul & Mary, Harry Chapin and Simon & Garfunkel." -Indie Productions |
"Their harmonies are pure and sweet, and their lyrics thought provoking. They say that music soothes the savage beast. When you hear these two sing and play together you will know why the phrase was coined." -Bodles Opera House |
"Ken is among the best of the Hudson Valley singer/songwriters". -Mane Productions |
"A pair of delightful composer/folksingers…their eclectic selections of original songs and adaptations of other people’s work featured gentle harmony and beautiful resonance. Their lilting songs filled the café and captivated the audience. Each song had a story or connection to it that made their short set vivid and riveting." -Richard Ross, The River Reporter |
"Best Folk Singing duo 2002: Listen, hear and explore something in their hearts" -Chris Farlekas, Times Herald Record |
"They have been making quite a stir in the Hudson Valley with their beautiful harmonies and haunting songs." -Bodles Opera House |