RANDIN GRAVES
Didgeridoo Player and Teacher


www.gingerroot.com
Summary-Education-Affiliations-Performances-Radio-Teaching-Discography
Also check out Randy's music and more information at www.gingerroot.com
CAREER SUMMARY

Randin (also known as Randy) Graves began playing the didgeridoo in 1993 while a music composition student at the University of California at San Diego, and has since become one of the world's best known experts on the instrument. He established himself as a leading USA-based performer, teacher and recording artist by the year 2000, made connections with Aboriginal Australia through short visits over the years, then in 2003 earned a Fulbright Fellowship to relocate to remote northern Australia and undertake a master's degree addressing issues of commercialization and globalization of the instrument.

He stayed in Australia as Assistant Coordinator and Yidaki Specialist at Buku-Larrnggay Mulka, the community art centre in Yirrkala, then launched the Mulka Project multimedia archive & training centre. Randin returned to the USA in 2009 due to family commitments and is focusing on his composing career, but remains committed to spreading awareness of the traditional culture of the didgeridoo among the growing number of worldwide didgeridoo players. He is available for lessons, workshops, presentations, performances and recording locally in Salt Lake City, Utah and around the country.

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RELEVANT EDUCATION & AWARDS

Master's Degree in Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander Studies at Charles Darwin University, May 2006, project "Cultural Foundation of the Yidaki (Didjeridu) in Northeast Arnhem Land." (learnline.cdu.edu.au/yolngustudies)

2003-2004 Australian-American Fulbright Postgraduate Fellow (www.fulbright.com.au)

Graduate Certificate in Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander Studies, Northern Territory University, 2003. (learnline.cdu.edu.au/yolngustudies)

Recipient of grant to spend July-August of 1999 in research, observing the current situation of the didgeridoo in Australia, both in the mainstream and in traditional Aboriginal Lands. Documented Yolngu instrument making and playing techniques with traditional yidaki master Djalu' Gurruwiwi and family.

Participated in and organized lessons and workshops with Stephen Kent, Allan Shockley, contemporary Australian Aboriginal didgeridoo players Janawirri Yiparrka and Mark Atkins, and traditional Aboriginal masters David Blanasi, Milkayngu Mununggurr and Djalu' Gurruwiwi.

B.A. Cum Laude in Music, with an emphasis in composition, University of California at San Diego, 1996.

California Arts Scholar Certificate, California State Summer School for the Arts, Music Composition Program, Summer 1991.

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RELEVANT AFFILIATIONS

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PERFORMANCE HIGHLIGHTS
  • Performed on guitar and voice (in Gumatj language) with Yolngu Aboriginal singer George Rrurrambu of Warumpi Band for the closing ceremonies of The Dreaming, an Aboriginal Cultural festival in Woodford, Queensland, Australia, June 2005.
  • Performed alongside Yolngu yidaki player Milkayngu Mununggurr at the United States ambassadors residence in Canberra, Australia, October 2004.
  • Featured performer with Merge at the All Weather Music Festival in Maaseik, Belgium, November 2003.
  • 4th Annual Joshua Tree International Didgeridoo Festival, October 2003.
  • Headlined East Coast Didjeridu Solstice event in Baltimore, Maryland, June 2003.
  • Featured performer with Merge at the Zitadellen Jazznacht Festival in Juelich, Germany, May 2003.
  • 3rd Annual Joshua Tree International Didgeridoo Festival, October 2002.
  • Featured performer of chamber music by composer Vicki Trimbach in Berkeley, California, March 2002.
  • Two solo performances at the 2nd Annual Joshua Tree International Didgeridoo Festival, September 2001.
  • Solo performance at Southwestern College's "World Music Night." December 2000.
  • Featured performer with Continuums II, a multimedia music, art and dance show at the Sushi Performing Arts space, San Diego, August 2000.
  • On tour in Summer 2000, performing in San Diego, San Francisco, Sacramento, Ashland, Eugene, Portland, and Seattle.
  • Several performances at Project Cathedral, a monthly ambient multimedia production in San Diego, 2000.
  • Opened for the White Cockatoo Performing Group, featuring traditional Wugularr didjeridu master David Blanasi, on August 28, 1999.
  • With Didginus, performed at the First Annual Joshua Tree International Didgeridoo Festival, September 2000.
  • Performed annually in Tucson, Arizona, at Allan Shockley's Dreamtime Party, until 1999 the largest didgeridoo event in the United States - Didginus was headline act in 1997, and has shared the stage in recent years with artists such as Stephen Kent and MerKaBa.
  • Along with Didginus, shared stage with Aboriginal didge players Mark Atkins and Janawirri Yiparrka at the San Diego Center for Moving Arts, September 1998.
  • With Tony Karasek, disciple of Pandit Ravi Shankar, opened for Aboriginal recording artist Janawirri Yiparrka at Pangaea, Palm Desert, California, August 1998.
  • Didginus was headline act of the Second Annual Didjeridu Solstice Celebration, at the Boulder Theater, Boulder, Colorado, June 1998
  • Featured performer at the Rain Forest Action Network benefit concert in Santa Cruz, California, on March 1, 1999. Shared stage with Shen, and other featured artists including Michael Bolivar, Carter Collins, Tony Lindsay, and Isaac Diarra.
  • Didginus performed annually at the International Friendship Festival in El Cajon, California, September, 1998-99, and at El Cajon World Markets, October-November, 1999.
  • Solo performance at the San Diego Folk Heritage Society 1999 Folk Festival, May, 1999.
  • Solo performance at the NHA/Head Start Cultural Inclusion Fair at Qualcomm Stadium, May, 1999.
  • Featured performer in recital with vocalist Kate Conklin at CalArts, May 1999.
  • Featured guest with the African drumming group Damaru, performing at San Diego Street Scene and the Belly Up Tavern, opening for such acts as Baaba Maal, Jimmy Cliff, and Leftover Salmon
  • Played didgeridoo, koto, and keyboards for "The History of Martial Dance," a performance presented by The Temple of the Full Autumn Moon, featuring interaction between multicutural music and live dancers and martial artists, January, 1998.
  • Performer in CrossArts III and IV, multimedia performance art pieces presented in San Diego by Sushi and Lynx Performance, December 1997 and August 1998.
  • Featured performer, on didgeridoo and guitar, with Lynx Renegade Jazz Ensemble, '96-'97
  • Performed at several events for the Los Angeles Zoo, Masters Yoga, and the Deepak Chopra Center for Wellbeing

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TEACHING: WORKSHOPS, LECTURES, ETC.
  • Has taught private lessons since 1996
  • Presented performance/demos in children's and family programs at all locations of the Weber County Library system, 2012-2013
  • Guest Lecturer in World Music at the University of Utah, every semester since January 2009.
  • Coordinator of Garma Festival Yidaki Master Class with Djalu' Gurruwiwi at Garma Festival in Gulkula, Northern Territory, Australia, August 2004-2007.
  • Coordinated workshops with Yolngu yidaki player Milkayngu Mununggurr at The Dreaming, an Aboriginal cultural festival in Woodford, Queensland, Australia, June 2005.
  • Presented lecture on the didjeridu with Yolngu yidaki player Milkayngu Mununggurr at the National Museum in Canberra, Australia, October 2004.
  • Presented three workshops at the 4th Annual Joshua Tree International Didgeridoo Festival, October, 2003.
  • Performing Artist with the San Diego Institute for Arts Education, providing interactive school assemblies for children grades K-12, September 1998-2002.
  • Presented three workshops at the 2nd Annual Joshua Tree International Didgeridoo Festival, October, 2002.
  • Lecture/performance at Whittier College, September 2002.
  • Lecture on culture behind the didgeridoo and linguistic influences on playing styles, University of California at San Diego Anthropology Club Spring Lecture Series, April 2002.
  • Lectured on culture behind the didgeridoo, including linguistic influences on playing styles, at Pomona College, November 2001.
  • Presented two workshops at the Second Annual Joshua Tree International Didgeridoo Festival, September 2001.
  • Lead a group of didgeridoo students on a trip to Australia to visit with Aboriginal master Djalu' Gurruwiwi, May-June 2001.
  • Guest Lecturer, Music 480, a Music Education class at California State University, San Marcos, October 2000.
  • Presented slideshow/lecture and didgeridoo workshops at the First Annual Joshua Tree International Didgeridoo Festival, September 2000.
  • Taught a workshop at the California State Summer School for the Arts, August 2000.
  • On tour June-July 2000, presenting Arnhem Land slideshows and workshops in San Diego, San Francisco, Sacramento, Ashland, Eugene, Portland, and Seattle.
  • Guest lecturer for Music 143, Music Department Seminar, at the University of California at San Diego, January 2000.
  • With Tucson musician Allen Smith, taught workshop on contemporary and traditional Aboriginal didgeridoo techniques as follow-up to the San Diego Folk Heritage Society's "Didgeridoo Night," January 2000.
  • Guest lecturer in World Music Traditions course with Dr. Nick England at the California Institute of the Arts, December 1999.
  • Gave slideshow presentation on experiences with the Yolngu people of Australia, including didgeridoo making techniques, at the San Diego Center for Moving Arts, October 1999.
  • Organized workshop for and taught beginning section with traditional Aboriginal didjeridu master David Blanasi, August 1999.
  • Taught group workshop at the San Diego Folk Heritage Society's 1999 Folk Festival, May, 1999.
  • Arranged concert and workshop for Aboriginal didge players Mark Atkins and Janawirri Yiparrka in San Diego, September 1998
  • Taught a series of didgeridoo workshops at the Percussive Arts Collective in downtown San Diego, January through July, 1998
  • Taught didgeridoo workshop with Allan Shockley in Tucson, Arizona, May 1998
  • Featured lecturer at the San Diego State University Center for World Music workshops, introducing the didgeridoo to faculty from colleges around the country, June 1996
  • Music Director for Arts Academy 1996, a summer program in Point Loma, CA for children active in the arts. Particularly focused on exposing children to instruments from around the world such as the didgeridoo, african percussion, and the Japanese koto, June-July 1996
  • Gave presentation on world music instruments and careers in music to a class at San Dieguito Academy, March, 1996
  • Guest lecturer for Music13AS, Music of Asia and Oceania, at the University of California at San Diego, April, 1995.

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RADIO APPEARANCES
  • Interviewed and played alongside Yolngu Yidaki player and dancer (from Bangarra Dance Company and Aboriginal star of 2000 Sydney Olympics Opening Ceremonies) Djakapurra Munyarryun, with Leon Compton on ABC Radio Darwin, regarding Fulbright project and efforts to increase Yolngu presence in didjeridu market, February 25, 2005.
  • Interviewed over phone by Carol Jackson, ABC Radio Tasmania, February 25, 2005.
  • Interviewed over phone by Barry Nichols, ABC Radio Alice Springs/Tennant Creek, February 23, 2005.
  • Interviewed with Yothu Yindi Yidaki player Milkayngu Mununggurr on ABC Radio Canberra, regarding Fulbright project and history of the didjeridu, October 2004.
  • Interviewed and played alongside Yolngu Yidaki player Barayuwa Mununggurr on ABC Radio Darwin, regarding Fulbright project and use of the didjeridu in Arnhem Land, May 2004.
  • Track "Bigaloo Tu" featured on nationally syndicated Hearts of Space radio show, August 2002.
  • Interview and performance on World Music Radio, www.worldmusicradio.org, January 2000.
  • Featured in-studio guest on KPBS Radio's (San Diego's public radio) The Lounge, discussing the didgeridoo and his activity with the instrument, May & August 1999.
  • Phone guest on KGNU Radio, Boulder, Colorado, discussing the didgeridoo and the Second Annual Boulder Didjeridu Solstice Gathering, June, 1998.
  • Appeared several times on the Backyard Superstar Project and World Fusion shows on KCR Radio, San Diego State University, to play and discuss the didgeridoo.

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DIDGERIDOO DISCOGRAPHY
click on titles for info, sound clips and purchasing information
  • Randin Graves, Jake's Dead - Original Score (GRRD020). Didjeridu, electronics, guitars, orchestra and production. Released October 2012.
  • Vicki Trimbach, More Didjeridu Music. Didjeridu with chamber ensemble. 2007.
  • Milkay Mununggurr, Hard Tongue Didgeridoo: Exercises in Northeast Arnhem Land Yidaki Style (BLMD001). Producer, design, clapsticks. Forthcoming August 2005.
  • Randy Graves, Just a Few Songs Before I Go (GRRD011). Didgeridoos, koto, guitars, winds, voice, percussion, electronics and engineering. Released October 2003.
  • Randy Graves, Your *meditative* Didjeridu Companion (GRRD010). Didgeridoos and engineering. Released October 2003.
  • Randy Graves, Your *somewhat odd* Didjeridu Companion (GRRD009). Didgeridoos and engineering. Released October 2003.
  • Randy Graves, Your *mixed up* Didjeridu Companion (GRRD008). Didgeridoos and engineering. Released October 2003.
  • Dominic Gaudious, All Hopped Up Didjeridu on track "If You Knew Me." Released May 2003.
  • Randy Graves, Your Didjeridu Companion (GRRD006). Didgeridoos and engineering. Released October 2002.
  • Randy Graves, Whirlwind (GRRD005) (rerelease of "Whirlwind" & "Whirlwind 2" on one disc). Producer, didgeridoo, koto, guitar, winds, voice, percussion, electronics. Released December 2001.
  • Randy Graves, Didgital (GRRD004). Didgeridoos, electronics and engineering. Released September 2001.
  • Super Sonic Samba School, Invites Andy Villas-Bôas to Swirl. Didgeridoo on "Praia Preta." Released 2001.
  • Sets 102FM 2001 Rob Machado Surf Classic Commemorative CD. Contributing Artist. Released Summer 2001.
  • "The Other Side of the Mirror." Engineered, performed and arranged music for a poetry cd by students of the San Diego School of Creative & Performing Arts. Released May 2001.
  • Damaru, Damaru Didgeridoo on "Kakilambe" & "Heartbeat." Released Summer 2000.
  • Didginus, Evolutionary Time (Out of Print). Producer, didgeridoos, guitars, bass, voice, khaen, keyboards, percussion. Released January 2000.
  • Various Artists, "mp3 50 Chart Toppers." Released Summer 1999.
  • Various Artists, mp3.com's "103 of the best songs you've never heard, vol.2." Released Summer 1999.
  • Randy Graves, "Whirlwind" & "Whirlwind 2" (GRRMP3-1&2). Producer, didgeridoo, koto, guitar, winds, voice, percussion, electronics. Released June 1999.
  • Didginus, More Than Alive (GRRD003). Producer, didgeridoo, guitar, khaen, keyboard and vocals. Released January 1999.
  • Various Artists, Didjeridu Planet 2 (DP02). Contributing Artist. Released January 1999.
  • Various Artists, Didgeridoo USA (PS001). Contributing Artist. Released December 1998.
  • Randy Graves, Jon Agree, Greg Callahan, and Mike LeBien, Music from The History of Martial Dance (GRRC002/GRRD002). Producer, didgeridoo, koto, synthesizer. Released February 1998.
  • Didginus, Into the Soul (GRRD001). Producer, didgeridoo, guitar, koto, vocals, khaen, various winds, keyboards, percussion, processing. Released April 1997.
  • Randin Graves, "Beginnings, Vol. 1&2." Producer, didgeridoo, guitar, koto, vocals, khaen, ocarina, recorder, keyboards, kanjira, various percussion. Released September 1996.
  • Session recording for several projects, including the forthcoming cd's from Poly Vinyl Chloride and the Activision DVD game "Civilizations."

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