Kelly Moran

“In Your Hands” - song written for Theresa Kachindamato

-- read poem (by Jacqueline Suskin)

-- read lyrics

Kelly Moran is a composer and pianist from New York. As the sole engineer and producer of her five solo albums, her intricately arranged electro-acoustic compositions have been described as accomplishing “the rare feat of making the work of a single individual sound like the artistic output of a veritable creative army.” (Clrvynt) As a pianist, Moran specializes in works that employ extended techniques and a prepared piano. Her forthcoming album 'Bloodroot' will be released by Telegraph Harp Records in March 2017.

In recent years she has performed as a bassist in Weasel Walter’s no-wave outfit Cellular Chaos, and keyboardist for avant-rock band Voice Coils. Recent collaborations include projects with Toby Driver (Kayo Dot), Charlie Looker (Extra Life), and Joshua Strawn (Azar Swan).

Moran completed her undergraduate degree at University of Michigan-Ann Arbor where she studied piano performance, sound engineering, and composition. In 2010, Moran received a fellowship for the MFA program in Integrated Composition, Improvisation, and Technology at  University of California-Irvine. A deep interest in composition for dance has propelled numerous collaborations and served as the foundation for her master's thesis, "Laboring Together: An Exploration of Collaborative Processes Between Composers and Choreographers"  (published by UC Irvine Libraries, July 2012.) Her composition teachers have included Bright Sheng, Ko Umezaki (Yo-Yo Ma’s Silk Road Ensemble) and Grammy award-winning composer Billy Childs. Most recently, she studied piano with acclaimed jazz pianist Kei Akagi (Miles Davis).