In 1988 Mara Kiek travelled to Bulgaria with grants from the Australia Council and the Alfred White Trust to study folk music, choral music and conducting at the Plovdiv Higher Institute of Music. She also attended singing lessons in Sofia and at the Istanbul Conservatorium. On her return home in 1989, Mara recruited about 40 Sydney singers around the core group, Mesana Salata, of which she was a founding member. Mesana Salata, formed in May 1983, were an all female multicultural choral group pioneering the new wave of Australian a capella. With further assistance from the Australia Council, Mara trained Martenitsa for 12 weeks, and presented an inaugural concert season.  Everyone was so enthusiastic that Martenitsa continues to the present day, with several of the original choristers and Mesana Salata members still there!  

Since their formation, Martenitsa has performed in many major concert halls in eastern Australia, toured with legendary Trio Bulgarka and Balkana and recorded a number of  CDs.  Martenitsa has worked on collaborations with Mara!, Clarion Fracture Zone, David Hobson and David Hirschfelder; commissioned works by Ivan Spasov (Bulgaria) and Sandy Evans (Aust); and broadcast live and prerecorded for many ABC Radio and TV programmes. As well as the commissioned works, Martenitsa has also performed original works by Llew and Mara, Tony Gorman, Alistair Spence, Stephan Kozuharov, Silvia Entcheva and Marcia Malinova-Anthony. 

Martenitsa Performance and Broadcast highlights

2008

Support for Goran Bregovich, Sydney Opera House Concert Hall Oct 14 and 16 

2007 

Queensland Music Festival "Lift Every Voice" in Caboolture

2006 

Recording with massed choir for Universal Pictures' "Happy Feet" 

2005 

"Sezoni" at WOMAD Reading UK and Koprivshtitsa (Bulgaria) Festivals with Mara!, Bon Voyage concerts at Paddington Town Hall

2004

"Tra Parole E Silenzio" - September 25 and 26, Mara! and Martenitsa at Fox Studios,  recorded by ABC Radio's Paul Petran for "Live on Stage" broadcast November 2004

Bulgarian National Day, May 23, Sydney

2003

"Homeland" - Berlin Poetry Festival, Berlin Germany ( 5 of Martenitsa toured for this project including soloist Silvia Entcheva). see also Homeland in Berlin

National Folk Festival, Canberra - preview "Tra Parole E Silenzio"

The Big Dance, Marrickville Town Hall

Winter Festival, Harris Centre, Sydney

Garrison Church, Sydney - AIDS benefit

2002

Sydney Convention Centre with Synergy Percussion 

2001 

Paddington Uniting Church - "Canticle" with Clarion Fracture Zone

Ignite Festival - Sydney Olympic Park

7th Sydney A Cappella Festival, St Fiacre Church, Leichhardt;

2000

Seymour Centre Sydney – 10th anniversary concerts including ABC radio and ABC TV Arts broadcasts

Hemispheres World Music Festival for SOCOG, Centennial Park, Sydney

“Home Land” seasons for the Olympic Games, Sydney and Brisbane Festival

1999

ABCTV – " Today 2000" telecast to over 60 countries on Jan 1 2000: of November 99 season of "Homeland" from Customs House Square .

1998

Sydney Opera House- Sundays ‘Round the House program 

Customs House Square- opening event, "Home Land" with Legs on the Wall, set to the "Sezoni" suite.

1997

Paddington Uniting Church - "Canticles" with Clarion Fracture Zone Paddington uniting Church - Premiere of new Australian works by Sandy Evans with Mara!

1996

Sydney Opera House - 4th World Choral Symposium '96

Sydney Town Hall - Choral Sea

Admiralty House - Concert with David Hobson/David Hirschfelder

1995

Sydney Town Hall - Choral Sea

1993

National Folk Festival Canberra '93 (Premiere "Sezoni Suite" with Mara!)

Eugene Goosens Hall - ABC Broadcasts '92-7

1992

Womadelaide

Adelaide Festival of Arts  – Adelaide Town Hall - (Balkana Tour)

Canberra Theatre - (Balkana Tour)

Sydney Town Hall - (Balkana Tour)

Melbourne Concert Hall - ABC Broadcast '92

1991

St Stephen's Church Newtown, inaugural concerts

 

Pictures: Top - Mara conducts Martenitsa's inaugural concert series 1991 photo Simon Bennetts

Lower right -  Silvia Entcheva, formerly with Le Mystère des Voix Bulgares. Silvia migrated to Australia in the mid 90's and performs as soloist with Martenitsa.