Darwin Maninya

Darwin Maninya is a celebration of the city and culture of Darwin, in Australia's Northern Territory — a coastal city at the top end of the country, known for its tropical climate and cultural diversity. The maninya style was invented by Australian composer Ross Edwards in the late 1970s: dance-chants characterised by lively rhythms, angular melodies, simple harmonies, and an abstraction of Australian wildlife sounds.

Ben Lahring (b. 1986) is an Associate Composer of the Canadian Music Centre and a member of the Canadian League of Composers. He is the classical guitar instructor at Ambrose University. From his formative years in tropical northern Australia to a globe-spanning music career, Lahring has always been bold in his musical explorations. His album Driftwood was reviewed to high acclaim as "a work of originality and shimmering beauty" (Vivascene) and "one of the most singularly beautiful guitar recitals" (Fanfare Magazine). He studied composition with Dr. Heva Chan in Sydney and Drs. Laurie Radford and Allan Bell in Calgary.