Multi-Cultural Artist – DARIA - Releases Third International CD for children

PRLog (Press Release) - Sep 24, 2006 -
Multi-Cultural Artist Releases Music CD for Children and Sends Giant Peace Cards To The Middle East


On September 11th, US-based world music performer, Daria (Daria Marmaluk-Hajioannou) released her third international album of children’s music. During that day she performed free concerts for her home community of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania and invited participants to sign 16 foot long cards that will be sent to children’s groups and community centers where she had performed this summer in Nazareth, Israel. These projects are just a part of Daria’s work that involves recorded music and live performances, but also peace-making and the empowerment of children. She is one artist that does not just talk about peace, but is actively making a difference in that realm.

Crafted by an Emmy award-wining producer, Daria’s music is positive, upbeat and celebrates the dignity of children from races all across the planet. Bearing the title: Beautiful Rainbow World, it follows her last cd which won national honors in the US as an outstanding Resource for Parents (NAPPA AWARDS) and she also received the title of “Best New Artist for Younger Children” from the Children’s Music Web in 2004. Often presented bi-lingually, Daria generally performs songs in their original tongues – such as Spanish or Yiddish, and then in translation without skipping a beat in the song. Born in the US, Daria spent her teenage years in rural South America so she is fluent in English, Spanish and the Quechua Indian language of the Andes. She is conversant and can sing in German, Yiddish, Hebrew as well as present material is Arabic, Zulu and Oneida (Iroquis).

One song on the new BEAUTIFUL RAINBOW WORLD cd that is receiving positive media attention bears the Hebrew and Arabic names for peace - “Salaam, Shalom.” The song was written before her summer 2006 trip to visit both factions in the Middle Eastern conflict. Daria tours outside of the USA at least twice a year. She has performed in over 14 countries and done extended workshops for children in rural Peru, Lima Peru, Israel, inner city US neighborhoods with STOMP and on a Pueblo Indian Reservation. “These are my favorite trips, because I get to spend time with children rather then just see them for just one day or just one concert.”

Daria’s community-building programs are given at no cost to the host community and can take more then a year of planning. They also allow her to continue expanding her repetoire of music to share with audiences both in the United States and abroad. “When I visit a community, I come with music from all over the world, but I emphasize the beauty and the value of my host community’s traditions. For many places this offers a way to interact with the outside world that affirms and upholds their own cultural values”.

Among Daria’s upcoming plans are to visit the Hamish Pueblo Reservation in the Fall, the Cheyenne River (Lakota) reservation and also to launch podcasts on her website in various languages so children around the world can connect with her in their mother-tongues. For copies of the new album or for more more information on DARIA, please visit www.dariamusic.com, www.myspace.com/dariasworldfest or contact Daria at 610-346-9087.