Sonia Loinsworth - Sacred Music - Tibetan Mantras

SINGER & COMPOSER SONIA LOINSWORTH writes music for Tibetan Buddhist Mantras. She performs in concert with harmonic chant and music inspired by several musical traditions, both European and Asian. Sonia is educated in music from the University of Georgia, USA, in musical and religious sciences from the university in Trondheim, Norway, in sound-healing (Tama-Do; The academy of sound, color & movemenet) and body-therapy (Bodynamic Institute, Denmark.) She has taken private lessons within the styles of classical european music, classical northern indian vocals, jazz and harmonic chant, and started her musical career at age 18 as a front-figure for several bands on the downtown Oslo music scene. Through 20 years of live performances she has developed her vocal style within the genres of soul, jazz, harmonic chant, and Norwegian folk songs interpreted in a ethnic style together with musicians from the classical Indian tradition.
Since 2001, Sonia has refined her vocal and composing skills through writing and performing music for Tibetan Buddhist Mantras; combining her musical work with a spiritual practice. With emphasis on harmonic chant and multilayered vocal tracks, she felt ready to make an album. “Songs of Compassion” was originally a 20 minute recording, released on Sonica Music in 2002. Inspired by the feedback it received from many corners of the world, Loinsworth decided to compose another 30 minutes of music for “Songs of Compassion II”, both albums released on her own label Sonica Music. The album pulls upon vocal styles from various traditions such as Classical Hundustani, Gregorian Chant, Irish folk (devotional songs) and Harmonic Chant, all blended into her own very personal expression. In 2007, Sonia signed an international licensing contract with Aquarius International Music, and released the second full length studio album: "Guru Rinpoche Mantra", with five new compositions to the mantra representing the great Indian tantric master Padmasambhava (Guru Rinpoche), who was one of the first indian yogis bringing Buddhism to Tibet where it merged with the existing Bön tradition, and became Tibetan Buddhism as we know it today.
Sonia performs at the Norwegian Concert Institute, at festivals, churches and cultural events, and gives concerts for practitioners of meditation in Europe. She also teaches groups in Mantra-chant, and writes articles for the main Norwegian new age magazine "Vision" on music and spirituality in the major world traditions.
Sonia has received grants from the Norwegian Art Council, Fund for performing artists, Fund for sound & visual productions, the International cultural coordinator of Trondheim, and from the Norwegian Embassy in several countries. Her performances have been highly appreciated and used in special contexts in Norway; Sonia has performed for H.M. the King of Norway, the Prime minister of Norway, and on several "state official visits" from foreign ministers and state leaders. She is often invited to perform at international and intercultural gatherings within science research, and at educational/innovation conferences.
Sonia Loinsworth is one of the founders and Chairman of Tibet Care ; a non-profit organization generating funds for Tibetan refugees and Tibetans inside of Tibet through art projects. A share of the artist proceeds from all CD-releases is channeled through Tibet Care to the various projects.