About Niran Dasika
Niran Dasika is a trumpeter, improvisor and composer based in Melbourne whose work encompasses jazz, free improvisation and electronic music. 

Niran’s latest trio album ‘Life Forms’ (2025) was released in 2025 through Earshift Music featuring legendary Melbourne artists Andrea Keller (piano) and Helen Svoboda (bass), described as “an album filled with rare and fragile beauty… dream-music for the inner heart” (Rhythm Magazine).

Niran’s live solo performances and solo albums have explored an expanding sonic world of synthesisers, drum machines and lo-fi electronica described as “…wide-ranging and ruminative, filled with contemplation and quietude… a predominant sense of stillness present throughout, of time barely advancing” (Dingo Magazine).

Niran’s work has been recognised by several awards including 2nd Place at the 2017 National Jazz Awards, winner of the 2019 APRA AMCOS Professional Development Award, winner of the 2019 Young Australian Jazz Artist of the Year, and finalist at the 2020 and 2025 Freedman Jazz Fellowship.

About Kyrie Anderson
Hailing from Australia, Kyrie Anderson graduated with First Class Honours in Jazz performance from the University of Adelaide, a testament to her exceptional skill and dedication. Now based in Melbourne, she stands as one of the country's most sought-after drummers, both on stage and in the studio.

Her career has led her to collaborate with a diverse array of national and international artists, from Russian feminist icons Pussy Riot to North America's Basia Bulat and Rachel Baiman, as well as Australian talents like Julia Jacklin, Emma Donovan, Odette, Thndo, Kutcha Edwards, Australian String Quartet and more.

Kyrie is a regular collaborator with notable artists such as Sam Anning, Andrea Keller, The Maes, Rowena Wise, Harry Angus (Cat Empire), Nancy Bates, Stephen Magnusson, Tom West, Siberian Tiger, Libby O’Donovan, and many others.

Her musical journey has taken her around the globe, gracing stages at numerous festivals including Breminale, Reeperbahn Festival, Woodford, Womadelaide, National Folk festival and more.

Beyond her performances, Kyrie has served as Musical Director for "Songs and Times of Sam Cook" starring Gary Pinto, and directed a percussion ensemble of over 100 for Adelaide Festival’s 2018 Headliner, Lost and Found Orchestra, as well as Dance North’s Noise at Womadelaide 2022.

Kyrie wears multiple musical hats, co-leading jazz group Aura (ABC Jazz’s album of the week, Bandcamp’s new and notable, and the best Jazz on Bandcamp; February 2021), ThenNowWhen featuring Sam Anning & Theo Carbo and LIIT with Niran Dasika and Lawrence Folvig.

About Ross McHenry
Dr Ross McHenry is a multi-award-winning producer, composer, bassist, and arts industry leader whose practice spans contemporary improvised music, chamber music, and the development of interdisciplinary new work.

Specialising in new work creation and presentation, Ross’ practice brings together artists, producers, and organisations to realise ambitious interdisciplinary projects that span music, theatre, and mixed media. He has overseen the delivery of major theatrical, screen and musical works that have toured nationally and internationally, engaging audiences across Europe, Asia, and North America. As both producer and composer, he has cultivated relationships with leading artists and ensembles around the world, positioning Australian work within a global context while fostering meaningful artistic exchange and discourse.

As a composer and performer, Ross has built a global reputation for his fearless approach to collaboration and sonic exploration. His extensive discography—as a bandleader and collaborator traces an evolving artistic trajectory rooted in creative improvisation and jazz practice. His work has been presented at major festivals including Glastonbury, Sydney Festival, Adelaide Festival, Melbourne International Jazz Festival, Splendour in the Grass, and the Wellington International Jazz Festival, and at leading venues such as the Melbourne Recital Centre and Ronnie Scott’s.

Ross is currently the Executive Producer of the Australian Chamber Orchestra, where he leads artistic strategy, programming, and the commissioning of new work across genres and forms. His approach is defined by a commitment to artist-led creative processes and the creation of extraordinary artistic experiences that challenge convention and expand the possibilities of contemporary performance.

Prior to joining the ACO, Ross was Executive Director of Windmill Theatre Company, Australia’s leading new work theatre company for children and young people. As part of Windmill’s senior leadership team, he helped guide the organisation through a period of significant artistic growth and structural transition, including the expansion of international touring programs and the production of large-scale new work. His leadership across both institutions reflects a rare duality: a deep engagement with artistic practice alongside a capacity to lead complex creative organisations.

Ross holds a PhD in jazz composition from the Elder Conservatorium, and his research explores the nature of creativity in individual and group practice. Ross’ contributions to the Australian arts sector have been recognised with major honours including the APRA AMCOS Art Music Award for Excellence in Jazz and State Luminary Award (SA), and the Arts South Australia Ruby Award. He is an Australian Music Centre Associate Artist, and a respected advocate for the role of the arts in civic and cultural life.