Sonya Holowell is a vocalist, composer, writer and educator of Dharawal and Inuit descent. Her work spans many contexts and forms, with improvisation as a primary mode towards emancipatory aims. Sonya is co-founder and previous editor of online arts publication ADSR Zine. She has become highly sought after as a consultant on judging panels and artistic committees, and was recently invited to co-host the 2023 APRA Art Music Awards. Sonya performs regularly with modular synthesist Ben Carey in their duo Sumn Conduit, and is balancing her practice with a Master of Arts in Writing and Literature, and Indigenist Research. 

 

Sonya’s work as a vocalist and composer has been shown on numerous platforms including Sydney Festival, Adelaide Festival, Resonant Bodies Festival, Sydney Biennale, Vivid Festival, soundSCAPE Italy, Soft Centre, Liveworks Festival, the Now Now Festival, Sydney Fringe Festival, Moorambilla Festival, The Banff Centre (Canada), Canberra International Music Festival, Chamber Made Hi-Viz Practice Exchange, SoundOut Festival, and others. She has collaborated with leading new music ensembles such as the Song Company, JACK Quartet, Ensemble Offspring, International Contemporary Ensemble, Decibel, Tura New Music and the Australian Art Orchestra, and has presented her manifold work at venues that include the Sydney Opera House, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Museum of Contemporary Art, Carriageworks, Institute of Modern Art, The Powerhouse Museum, MUMA and the National Gallery of Australia.

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Photo: still from film by Hospital Hill