ABOUT KEYNA
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Keyna Wilkins is a pioneering Australian/British composer-musician. She is a two-time finalist for the Australian Art Music Awards for Individual Excellence in 2021 and 2018 (APRA/AMCOS). She has written over 60 compositions that are performed internationally and published by Wirripang. Her music is characterised by a passion for human rights, astronomy, Indigenous culture, jazz, intuitive improvisation and existential quests. As an innovative soloist and leader of cutting edge ensembles, she has been heralded by UK's Jazz Journal as a "powerhouse player", and "fine and nuanced playing" by Limelight Magazine and is described by Australian Jazz as being "unconstrained by labels and is constantly exploring new ways to express herself musically". Her compositions have been described as by The Sydney Morning Herald as "arresting, genre-blurring, disquieting music with massive breadth and high drama". Wilkins has composed 4 major orchestral works including "Celestial Emu", a didgeridoo concerto in collaboration with indigenous didgeridoo player Gumaroy Newman for The Metropolitan Orchestra, and a triple flute concerto "Solar Triumvirate" which was described by Sydney Arts Guide as "sensational,.. with incredible freshness of gesture". She has released 9 albums of original music on all streaming platforms including 4 solo albums. Her latest album in 2021, "Set Me Free", a collaboration with a 9 year innocent detained refugee poet-artist, Jalal Mahamede, has been described by New York DooBeeDoo arts magazine as "Beautiful and sobering...and important story to tell". Wilkins is an Associate Artist with the Australian Music Centre and has five tunes in the Australian Jazz Realbook. She also writes music for films and theatre including short film "Remote Access" which won Best Short Film at the Imagine This International Film Festival in New York 2019 and her works are featured on ABC, Triple J, Fine Music FM, Cambridge Radio, SOAS London and many more.
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