Kerani (1968) is a Dutch composer,

orchestrator Orchestration is the study or practice of writing music for an orchestra (or, more loosely, for any musical ensemble, such as a concert band) or of adapting music composed for another medium for an orchestra. Also called "instrumentation", orch ...

, and producer of Hungarian heritage known for her sophisticated and meticulously crafted music, infused with classical influences. She is recognised for her contributions to various media projects, including documentaries, short films, and trailers. Over the course of her career, Kerani has released ten albums, each showcasing her unique artistic vision. Notably, Kerani has been honoured in the US with the distinguished ZMR Music Award for Best Neo-Classical New Age Album on three separate occasions, underscoring her significant impact on the genre.

Biography

Kerani, born in Belgium to Hungarian parents, currently resides in the

Netherlands ) , anthem = ( en, "William of Nassau") , image_map = , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands , established_title = Before independence , established_date = Spanish Netherl ...

. She is the founder and head of Kerani Music, her own publishing company. Additionally, she oversees Toon Zaal 1

an art gallery, music recording, and media production company located in the close proximity to Maastricht.

Early life

Kerani spent her formative years in Brussels, Belgium, alongside her three older brothers, making her the youngest among them. At the tender age of four, her father acquired a used piano, which immediately captivated her. Displaying a remarkable ability to play tunes by ear, her parents recognized her musical aptitude and promptly enrolled her in music school. From that point forward, music became the central theme in Kerani's life. At the age of 18, Kerani teamed up with a couple of studio musicians to record her instrumental compositions ''Seagullsong'' and ''Oblivion''. The single got national airplay and ''Oblivion'' became the tune of a breakfast show on Radio 2 (Belgium), Radio 2 Flanders. In this period, she also performed as lead vocalist and keyboardist in a cover band.

Career

In 2011, Kerani's professional musical career soared as she undertook the composition of soundtracks for several documentary films commissioned by the Historical Society of the Roerstreek in the Netherlands. During the same year, she unveiled her debut new age album, "Wings of Comfort." Just one year later, her sophomore release, "The Journey," made its debut. Both albums garnered significant airplay and contributed to Kerani's burgeoning reputation in the music industry. Meanwhile, she also worked fo
Peaceful Radio
a Dutch internet radio station, where she conducted interviews with various international new-age artists, such as Rodrigo Rodriguez and Sabine van Baaren. In the run-up to the release of her third album ''Arctic Sunrise'' in 2014, Kerani wrote the soundtrack to several documentaries commissioned by the NWO - the Dutch Organization for Scientific Research. She also re-orchestrated a large set of children's songs for an instruction DVD for disabled children, called t Steyntje zingt''. ''Arctic Sunrise'' went to #2 on the International Zone Music Reporter Chart for new-age music, got airplay on hundreds of radio stations worldwide, was a Top 10 album on the annual ZMR rankings, and won the ZMR Neo-Classical Album of the Year Award. From this album, the classical track ''Far Away from Home'' was re-orchestrated, recorded and published for windband by Bronsheim Music. In 2015, a few days before performing in concert with

Terry Oldfield Terry is a unisex given name, derived from French Thierry and Theodoric. It can also be used as a diminutive nickname for the names Teresa or Theresa (feminine) or Terence or Terrier (masculine). People Male * Terry Albritton (1955–2005), A ...

, Kerani launched her fourth concept and bestseller album, ''Equilibrium'' On this album, she was joined by special guest musicians including concertmaster of the South-Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra Wilfred Sassen, violist Joanne Wigmans, cellist Joep Willems and brass musician Jos Gijsen. Some of the musicians are known internationally, such as shakuhachi flute player and recording artist Rodrigo Rodriguez , guitarist Romain van Beek and flutist and vocalist Jan Mertens. The album received a nomination for the Best Neo-Classical New Age Album by the ZMR and was also nominated for Best Electronic Album by One World Music Radio in the UK. In the spring of 2017, Kerani released her fifth concept album, calle
''Stardust''
''Stardust'' is a space-themed album that was recorded wit
Roermonds Orkest De Symphonie
conducted by Christiaan Janssen
Gemengd Vocaal Ensemble Canto Rinato
conducted by Anton Kropivšek. In total, 60 musicians participated in this elaborate project, which was led by executive producer Arno Op den Camp, and supported by multi-Grammy and Latin Grammy Award winning producer

Kabir Sehgal Kabir Sehgal is an American author, composer, producer, navy officer, military veteran, investment banker, and financial executive. He is the ''New York Times'' and ''Wall Street Journal'' bestselling author of twelve books. He has also won five ...

, who also wrote the liner notes in the CD booklet. While receiving many accolades from the international press and holding the #1 position in the ZMR International Top 100 Radio Airplay Chart during the months of June and July 2017, ''Stardust'' got nominated in 2 categories by the ZMR: New Age Album of the Year 2017 and Best Neo-Classical Album. In 2018, Kerani launched her sixth neoclassical album, called ''Small Treasures'', a collection of musical inspirations which found their origin in experiences that have affected Kerani's life. This makes ''Small Treasures'' her most personal work to this day. ''Small Treasures'' was recorded with a string quartet, supplemented with a select number of guest artists, such as Grammy winning Canadian flautist

Ron Korb Ron Korb is a Grammy-nominated Canadian flutist (flautist) and composer. Musical style Korb is best known for writing culturally diverse music and his mastery of a wide array of world music wind instruments. His work spans a range of genres inc ...

, Irish singer songwriter Chanele McGuinness and Brazilian soprano coloratura and guitarist Carla Maffioletti. Just like its predecessor, ''Small Treasures'' held the #1 position in the ZMR International Top 100 Radio Airplay Chart for 2 months. The album won the ZMR Music Award for Best Neo-Classical Album of 2018., At the same time, the song ''Garden of Dreams'' got nominated for the 2018 Peace Song Awards in the New Age category. September 2020 - Almost two years after the release of ''Small Treasures'', Kerani returned with an epic body of work called ''Sands of Time''. Inspired by Greek mythology, the music on this album describes the most beautiful elements that brought forth life on earth, such as Love, Beauty, Light, and Wisdom. ''“The myths and legends of the ancient Greek may be archaic, but their human aspect is still valid. We should use our love and knowledge to create beauty and bring peace to the world.”'', says Kerani. ''Sands of Time'' got voted Best Neo-Classical Album of 2020 by the jury of One World Music Radio and by the broadcasters and radio hosts of the Zone Music Reporter. March 2022 marked the release of Kerani's album called ''The Water of Life'', an ode to the powerful element of water, which was recorded wit
The Magic Strings Quartet

Music for media

Kerani also produces music customised for the worldwide television and film industry in collaboration with her German publishe
Ripcue Music
Her notable works includ
''Celtic Otherworld''
, a 31-track album, and
"Journey of Life"
a 12-track album.

Radio

From 2018 to 2023, Kerani served as the producer and host of two radioshows on One World Music Radio. ''"Kaleidoscope"'' was a thematic programme featuring a diverse array of new age music, spanning from piano solos to neo-classical compositions. In her show''"Musings"'', Kerani conducted insightful interviews with influential figures in the new age music industry, including luminaries such as

Moya Brennan Moya Brennan (born Máire Philomena Ní Bhraonáin on 4 August 1952), also known as Máire Brennan, is an Irish folk singer, songwriter, harpist, and philanthropist. She is the sister of the musical artist known as Enya. She began performing pr ...

Erik Wøllo Erik Wøllo (born 1961) is a Norwegian composer and musician, guitarist and synthesist. He has a background in various genres in music. As a solo recording artist, he is most known for his electronic and ambient musical soundscapes. Music that ca ...

, Michael Hoppé, and

Andreas Vollenweider Andreas Vollenweider (born 4 October 1953) is a Swiss harpist. He is generally categorised as a new-age musician and uses a modified electroacoustic harp of his own design. He has worked with Bobby McFerrin, Carly Simon, Luciano Pavarotti and ...

., shedding light on their significant contributions to the genre.

Discography

# Wings of Comfort (album 2011) # The Journey (album 2012) # Echo of our Souls (single 2013) # Wonderful Peace/Stralande Jul (single 2013) # Arctic Sunrise (album 2014) # The Story of Christmas (single 2014) # Equilibrium (album 2015) # Days of Yore (single 2016) # Stars (single 2016) # The Little Shepherd's Flute (single 2016) # Stardust (album 2017) # Drive (single 2018) # Small Treasures (album 2018) # City Skylines (single 2019) # A Christmas Wish (single 2019) # One World (single 2020) # Summer Romance - featured on ''New Beginnings'' - OWMR charity album (2020) # Sands of Time (album 2020) # The Crystal Dancer (single 2021) # Celtic Otherworld (album 2022) published b
RipCue Music GmbH
# The Water of Life (album 2022) # Sailing (single 2023) # Journey of Life (album 2023) published b
RipCue Music GmbH
# Lucky Charm (single 2023) - ft. Susan E. Maze

and Dallas Smith # Silent Heart (album 2024)

References

{{Reflist

External links

Official Website

Kerani Music Studio/Toon Zaal11

Kerani's YouTube Channel

Discogs

Kerani Album Productions FB-page

''"Kaleidoscope"'' Kerani's music show on OWMRadio

''"Musings With..."'' Kerani's interview show on OWMRadio

Kerani on Podcasters Spotify

Steinse componiste wint Amerikaanse muziekprijs
Living people Belgian composers Belgian expatriates in the Netherlands Belgian people of Hungarian descent 1968 births 20th-century Belgian women musicians 21st-century Belgian women 21st-century Belgian musicians