Kelly Thoma and Mayu Shviro first crossed paths at the Labyrinth Musical Workshop in Crete and have been making music together since 2016. They bring to life a repertoire of Kelly Thoma’s contemporary modal compositions, performed on cello and lyra—a pear-shaped, three-stringed bowed instrument. Drawing inspiration from musical traditions across the globe, their work celebrates improvisation and breathes new life into ancient soundscapes.

Kelly Thoma began studying the lyra with Ross Daly in Crete back in 1995. Just three years later, she was touring with his Labyrinth ensemble throughout Europe, Asia, Australia, and the United States. This incredible journey saw her sharing the stage with celebrated musicians including the Trio Chemirani, Derya Türkan, Zohar Fresco, Dhruba Ghosh, Ballake Sissoko, Erdal Erzincan, and many more. Through these rich collaborations, she’s crafted a distinctive voice on the lyra and developed her own creative approach to traditional music.

Mayu picked up the cello at age six, beginning with Western classical music. At eighteen, she discovered the world of modal music and everything changed. Captivated by the power and beauty of these musical traditions, she dove headfirst into this new realm, embarking on a cello journey through Arab, Turkish, and Azerbaijani traditions. Today, she creates her own music, weaving together threads from the traditions and people she’s encountered along the way: jazz, modal music (Turkish, Azerbaijani, Arab), and the sounds of nature itself.