Maria Ruffino

So I've decided to conform to the myspace underworld... Thanks to the influence of many Melbourne Musician peers!! Please excuse my inability to decorate and upload... My site is under development and will improve as my ignorance is replaced with myspace know it all... I am sure all the trial and error that will become pure myspace knowledge will make me a better person!!I am 22, and that makes me very wise!! I am a solo artist (singer) and that makes me very poor!! I take constant advice from fortune cookies and I don't even eat dumplings!! I am currently writing 'original' music, I should be getting it on here soon!! Don't get too excited!I've had some requests to elaborate on my bio with some 'real stuff' so here is:I didn't start singing until I got accepted into the Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School at 17. I finished my VCE there as a vocal major with piano as my secondary study. I jumped straight into Uni at the VCA, but decided to complete my second and third year studies at a wonderful and happy little conservatorium in Queensland (Central Queensland Conservatorium.) Now I am in possession of a Bachelor of Jazz Studies, with Distinction I might add. I have played at some amazing venues with some amazing musicians. I had the pleasure of singing BV's for the Hands and Ngaiire at the International Blues and Roots Festival in Byron Bay earlier this year, sharing the stage with idols such as India Arie, Beth Orton, David Gray, Michael Franti, Donovan Frankenreiter, Jamie Cullum... And the list goes on!! Lucky me!! Also I had the honor of touring with Vince Jones, Matt McMahon, Graham Jesse and Peter Walters in June. I've just joined a funky little R&B/Reggae band called On The Fly. No gigs yet, we are still rehearsing... The New year should see us with a funky demo and some shows, so keep your eye out for us. Sometimes I sing in Ocean Baroque's band, which is amazing, simply because he is amazing!! He's worth checking out... (In my top friends) if you like something deep, delicious and different with a slight quirk... Otherwise, at the moment I am doing random Jazz/Cover gigs as I write my own music, and work towards an album.Thanks to all who has shown an interest in me & my music... myspace and I appreciate it very much. Now that I have done a couple of reasonably dodgy home recordings, you can get a vague idea of my style... At the moment I just play and sing. I'm yet to put together my own band to showcase my original stuff. Hopefully in the New Year, this will all change, and I can start getting clever and funkier with my arrangements. Feel free to leave comments or suggestions. Otherwise, if you get the time to listen... Enjoy!Get Your Own! | View Slideshow