Ensemble Beyond Borders

Lyndon Davis 
Is a Gubbi Gubbi artist, educator and cultural performer. Raised on the Sunshine Coast-Gubbi Gubbi country by his grandmother, Lyndon’s arts practice represents his deep connection to country and depicts stories of his region’s flora and fauna and creation stories. He is involved in delivering cultural awareness to schools throughout the area. He also operates the successful Gubbi Gubbi Dance troupe. 
Despite such impressive audiences as the Queen, the Dalai Lama and past Prime Ministers, a humble Lyndon Davis says, "what would have meant more than anything to me would have been to perform in front of my nan and uncles if they were still here today." Equally impressive is the recognition Lyndon has received from the Sunshine Coast University being awarded the Senior Fellowship Award to honour his services over the last fifteen years. Lyndon says he's driven to be a positive role model for the next generation. "I'd describe myself as a big fig tree - a totem that was passed down to me by an Elder. It houses animals, provides food and shelter, has strong roots and is well grounded.”

Tunji Beier
Was born in Papua New Guinea, then grew up in Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, Germany and Australia. In his early years, growing up in Nigeria, he was enthralled by the strong Yoruba drumming tradition, which still informs his practice. He had the opportunity to learn from various Yoruba drummers such as Muraina Oyelami , Ademola Onibonokuta  & Rabiu Ayandokun. Tunji also studied Classical Western and South Indian percussion in Bayreuth Germany from the ages 11-14 and at the age of 15 Tunji went to Bangalore India and spent 4 years studying intensely with Guru T.A.S. Mani. Tunji then spent 10 years in Germany where he had the opportunity to tour, create ensembles, was artistic director of the Bayreuth Border Crossings Festival and toured extensively throughout Europe. This gave Tunji the opportunity to play with greats such as: Charlie Mariano, Bill Cobham, Iain Ballamy, R.A.Ramamani, Trilok Gurtu, and Zakir Hussain. Since Returning to Australia in 2002 Tunji has made a career as a percussionist in fusion, jazz, world and contemporary classical musical forms. He has worked with many great Australian musicians on recording, touring and co-designed projects. Tunji has been involved in ensembles of various music traditions such as Carnatic, Yoruba, Jazz, Sacred, Persian, Islamic, Fusion as well as theatre and dance.

Lizzie O’Keefe
Is a dynamic and commanding vocal artist and a versatile, innovative performer, based on the Sunshine Coat, Australia. Growing up with strong classical and jazz influences, Lizzie developed a completely unique signature style with a wide vocal range, strong improvisational skills and enjoys experimenting with many different styles. Her most recent project, Dangerous Song, is a collaboration with Linsey Pollak combining the sounds of endangered species with the human voice. Dangerous Song has toured nationally and internationally, produced 3 albums and created a new project with Mongolian singer Bukhchuluun Ganburged which received standing ovations at WOMADelaide. Over the past few years, Lizzie has also been singing with Dub Zoo, a psychedelic dub band and has been fortunate to collaborate with William Close and the Earth Harp Collective (USA) and Ben Walsh (The Bird, Orchestra of the Underground, Circle of Rhythm). Prior to returning to the Sunshine Coast, Lizzie lived and performed in Sydney, the UK and Indonesia. During this time she recorded with the Mitchell and Dewbury Band (Brighton), Jazzanova (Berlin), Razoof (Cologne) and Drumagick (Brazil). During her Indonesian stint she formed the duo Paramitsha with Tah Riq, a Jordanian classical/flamenco guitarist, realising a self-titled EP in 2013. After returning to Australia she released the EP Leaden Heart with the title track making her a finalist in the jazz category for the 2015 Queensland Music Awards. 

Bukhchuluun Ganburged (Bukhu) 
Is a master student of the Music and Dance Conservatory of Ulaanbaatar. Performing the folk music of Mongolia, and exploring the aural dimensions of sounds generated by traditional instruments and harmonic overtone vocal techniques. Based in Sydney, Australia since 2009. Bukhu was granted most prestigious Distinguished Talent Visa by the Australian government as an internationally recognised artist with exceptional and outstanding contributions to the arts. A cultural ambassador of his country. Bukhu combines virtuosic Morin Khuur (Horse Head Fiddle) and Khuumii (Harmonic Overtone Throat Singing) skills to transmit the harmony of Mongolian nomads and Shamanic culture  through time and space. Bukhu’s music brings a contemporary take on the tradition of Mongolian bards of the middle ages and those of ancient times, acting as a national memory bank by working mythologies, historic figures and events into traditional verse form. Bukhu is a former member of the Morin Khuur Ensemble, Khangal Quartet and Domog folk bands of Mongolia. Touring extensively for audiences in Italy, France, Belgium, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Denmark, Luxembourg, Czech Republic, Japan, Korea, Taiwan and Australia. Bukhu embodies the spirit of reinterpreted narratives through verse, with an enchanting mix of folk traditions and contemporary influences woven into the fabric of his arrangements.  In 2020 Bukhu was a finalist on The Voice, working with Guy Sebastian.

Tenzin Choegyal
Is a Tibetan artist, composer, activist, and cultural ambassador. A proud son of Tibetan nomads, he continues the unbroken nomadic lineage which is central to his musical repertoire. As a child, Tenzin would listen to his mother singing in the nomadic style and he attributes much of his passion for that genre to her early influence. He is a master of traditional Tibetan instruments and is well-known for his extraordinary vocals. In addition to his much loved solo performances Tenzin is an avid collaborator with musicians from diverse cultures, traditions and genres. Since arriving in Australia in 1997, Tenzin has made his mark on the world music scene, touring widely in Australia, Japan, India, Europe, and the USA, and has released eight albums, including Songs from the Bardo with Laurie Anderson released by Smithsonian Institute and collaborated on film scores including The Last Dalai Lama and a theatrical concert The White Lama with Philip Glass.

Airileke Ingram
Is a percussionist, producer, composer, activist, recording and global events facilitator. Born in Australia with roots in PNG Airileke grew up between the shores of both PNG and the Top End. Currently based in Peachester (Sunshine Coast) he continues to travel back and forth. Airileke's unique sound melds progressive ideas with beats of ancient Melanesian culture. Hip-hop production, fierce log drumming, Papuan chants, atmospheric soundscapes and samples from the front line of the Free Papua Movement combine to evoke one of the region's darkest stories: the illegal occupation and ongoing oppression of West Papua. This is the new sound of urban Melanesia. Airileke grew up learning traditional drumming from his ancestral village of Gabagaba (Drumdrum) near Port Moresby, the region's ‘sing sing’ grounds for drums, dance and ceremony. As a touring percussionist, his resume expanded from Melanesian heroes Drum Drum and Telek to Australian indigenous trailblazers Bart Willoughby, Wild Water, Gurrumul, Yothu Yindi & Yirrmal. In 2006 he co-founded the Wantok Musik Foundation. In 2015 Airileke was Co-Artistic Director and Composer for the “PNG 2015 Pacific Games Opening”. The show was an Olympic scale event, viewed by over 10 million viewers across the globe.

Nadia Sunde
Is an acclaimed cabaret artist, vocalist, songwriter, theatre actress, comedienne and former ABC radio presenter, a standout performer - effortlessly engaging and uplifting audiences with warmth, talent and skill. With a performance career spanning over 25 years, Nadia has sung on grand stages, flatbed trucks, country town halls, amphitheatres, hay bales, river beds and even on water when she featured as a guest vocalist in the world premiere of Linsey Pollak's work The Dream of Zedkat Nabu (2013 APRA Art Music Award for 'Qld Performance of the Year’). Inspired and influenced by her Croatian heritage, Nadia has evolved a style of ‘vocalese’ that captures a 'Balkan tonality' - exploring the deep resonances and rich tones of her first language and showcasing her own unique vocal quality. A multi-award winning theatre maker and songwriter for children, Nadia is also the creative force behind ‘The Collector’s - an immersive theatre work for 3-8 year olds and their communities that uses story to explore and celebrate our deep relationship with nature. This project was developed for inclusion in the Commonwealth Games Festival 2018. Nadia is currently in rehearsals with her new cabaret work Mambo Italiano - in honour of her father's record collection and in celebration of the influence of 1950s Italian American musicians.