Juliann Ma

Wildlife Explorer ℘ Performing Artist ℘ Teacher

Crossroads Makam : Armenia to Anatolia

at Tour, click for locations
7-19 Apr 2024.

Artist ℘ Wildlife Explorer ℘ Teacher

“Art is the awakening of our planet’s vibrations in the soul.” JOOLZ

Taiwanese-American artist JOOLZ 馬 恖 恖’s transdisciplinary, cross-cultural, collaborative projects seek and shake the soul. The founder, artistic director, co-writer, filmmaker and musician of the award-winning collective-initiative S E A S, she engages with diverse artists, scientists, communities, environments, and wildlife to unearth new understandings about our planet, the climate crisis, on both localized and global scales; and ignite vital human reconnection to Earth. From public panels with scientists to immersive performances, films, and exhibitions, she has led S E A S to Carnegie Hall, Consulat général de France à New York, Heritage Space, The New School, and global screenings Rise, Awaken and Isostasy. Partnering sustainability advocates including U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Chasing Coral, New England Coastal Wildlife Alliance, MIT Media Lab’s Open Ocean, Caroga Lake Inter-Arts Symposium, and Asian American Arts Alliance, JOOLZ contributes regularly in biodiversity conservation and community efforts concerning ecological ethics, encouraging all to consider the roles we play on the journey towards our planet’s sustainability.

A citizen-artist, JOOLZ brightens her communities through eclectic roles. In addition to volunteering as a Gluck Fellow (New York City) and research contributions as a Fulbright Scholar (Paris, France), she has taught music at Harvard University, Music-Ally, Tonerow, Avenues: The World School; creative writing at Stanford Pre-Collegiate Studies; and created and led collaborative arts courses and programs at Stanford University. She is a returning Speaker and Teaching Artist at Caroga Lake Music Festival, as well as transdisciplinary performer at Silkroad Global Musician Workshop. Today, she leads Global Voices Live—a fresh music series based in Cambridge, MA that offers global music and improvisation workshops, jam sessions, and outdoor concerts featuring international musicians. Supported bythe Massachusetts Cultural Council, their recent work has sparked the Mehfil series, a recurring gathering of musicians and artists who travel and perform live improvisation with different communities, revolutionizing how people engage in music-making and challenging the distinction between performer and audience.

As a musician, JOOLZ blends her piano chops and newly discovered vocals in experiments involving (and not limited to) raag, makam, jazz, and odd rhythms/ rhythmic cycles. Most recently, she collaborates with Shuunya Ensemble, a branch of the Graduate World Music Ensemble at Harvard University, and has become a founding core member of the Crossroads Makam series (featuring original compositions and arranged Middle Eastern classical and folk songs) as well as the alternative global fusion ensemble The Trespassers, who are working towards their first album. Her collaborative project As.Am.I (Asian American Immigrant Songs and Stories) weaves personal stories, arranged folk songs and originals, and meditation in an effort to connect with Asian communities across the U.S. and overcome the violence against AAPI communities that has risen since the pandemic. Their project will include original compositions that reach for and stretch each musician’s roots. To this end, she is developing collaboration with Tjimur, the vocal dance company of the Paiwanese tribe in Taiwan.

A certified yoga teacher with training in Alexander Technique, music psychology, and the Wim Hof Method, JOOLZ leads a unique yoga practice focused on breathwork, natural body alignment and movement designed for musicians, first responders, injury recoverers, outdoor lovers. Combining dynamic and flexible teaching style and content spirited by each student, she maintains thriving private music and yoga studios both online and in-person in Cambridge, MA.

JOOLZ earned degrees at Stanford University, École Normale de Musique de Paris ‘Alfred Cortot’, The Juilliard School, and The New School. For her contributions to the humanities and creative arts, she received Stanford University’s Robert M. Golden Medal, the Marin Alsop Entrepreneurship Award, Father Merlet and Pro Musicis International Awards. Her piano performances and masterclasses have taken her across the U.S. and Caribbean, Europe, Japan, and Southeast Asia. Highlights include Stanford Bing Concert Hall, Konzertsaal Bundesallee, Carnegie Hall, Salle Cortot, Dôme de Grandes Écuries Chantilly, Harvard University, Herbst Theater, Hitachi Systems Hall Sendai, Jordan Hall, Louis K. Meisel Gallery, Three Palms Montego Bay, Schoenberg Center, WQXR, and Yamaha Artists Services New York.

A lifelong student, JOOLZ continues to learn from mentors, colleagues, her own students, friends, and family. Among her deeply supportive network, JOOLZ attributes her artistic roots especially to her mother, her first teacher. She thanks her father for sparking her interest in investigative journalism, her brothers for instilling an entrepreneurial and activist spirit, and her friends for encouraging her bent for adventure and deep dive into cultures around the world.

For inspiration, JOOLZ enjoys spending time in nature. In addition to filmmaking and photography, she is a committed ‘Zero Waste’ citizen and dedicated volunteer with wildlife rescue organizations. She is currently researching towards her projects : ‘AsAmI’, ‘Aloha ‘Aina’, ‘Looking through the Ecoglass’, ‘Disappearing Forest’, and Listening to the Sea’, and enjoys hosting musical gatherings for her international music family.

You are invited to attend JOOLZ’s upcoming events, or contact her directly!

Notable Work

Une barque sur l’océan

From Maurice Ravel’s Miroirs, an evocation of the ocean performed by Juliann Ma.

Zourouni

Arabic classic by Sayed Darwich and Mohamad Younes Al Kadi, performed with Abeer Nehme

S E A S

Sustainable Environment through the Arts & Sciences initiative awakens the world to the global climate crisis through creative interface between community, environment, research, art, and education. Led by Juliann, the team molds immersive experiences that relay stories from around the world, through the eyes of those impacted. Rise, Awaken with S E A S…

Lan Hua Hua

Northern Chinese tune, performed with Wu Man

Peanuts Gallery

Peanuts Gallery Piano Concerto: an original theater production animating Charles Schulz’s comic strips through the musical genius of Ellen Taaffe Zwilich and collaborative improvisations by the interdisciplinary cast.

More performances

Video and audio of Juliann’s solo performances, her collaborations, and her projects.

Concerts & Gatherings

Upcoming

Notable

Featured Photographs

A larger collection of photography from Juliann’s performances and gatherings is featured in her photo gallery.

Press & Reviews

Originally published by Rorianne Schrade for New York Concert Review; New York, NY

A noteworthy recital debut occurred last Thursday, that of excellent pianist Juliann Ma, under the auspices of the Pro Musicis organization. Pro Musicis, founded in 1965, has for decades had a track record of presenting outstanding and communicative young artists in both conventional venues and community service concerts. Their roster has had such an illustrious array of musicians that it is impossible to select just a few names (but one can visit www.promusicis.org to learn more). Whether the Pro Musicis magic is more in their choosing of exceptional talent or in their nurturing of it through concerts and outreach may be up for debate – surely a mixture of both – but, in any case, they continue to thrive. Juliann Ma, their 2016 addition to the roster, provided ample evidence of that at her recital. (excerpt. Read entire review.)

Please contact Juliann for a press kit or to arrange press passes for her events.

Contact Juliann Ma

Piano/ Yoga instruction

Juliann offers personalized curricula to piano and yoga students of all ages, backgrounds, and skill levels. Her studios are based in Cambridge, MA. Please contact her to arrange for private lessons or a meet and greet! Remote lessons can be arranged and conducted via ToneRow (music), and Zoom (yoga).

Email

For any professional inquiries including performances, collaboration, instruction, or if you would like to support her work.

Stay in Touch

Juliann has a YouTube channel and a Calendar feed of her public events. If you would like to support Juliann’s work via donation, your gift would go toward furthering her projects!

Thank you for your energy in shaping our planet Juliann