PBS is devastated to learn of the passing of musician, and Director of The Boite world music organisation, Zulya Kamalova. We extend our deepest sympathies to Zulya’s family; husband Andrew and daughter Zifa, and also to her extended family of collaborators, musicians and artists in Naarm/Melbourne’s music community.
Zulya has been a regular visitor to PBS, and a great friend of the station. As a performer Zulya regularly appeared on the Global Village show and other PBS programs since arriving from her native Russia more than 20 years ago. In her role as Director with The Boite she also championed countless musicians, and worked tirelessly to bring exposure to these artists.
This Sunday, September 22 on Global Village (5pm-7pm), Roger Holdsworth will dedicate the second half of the program to Zulya’s music and to her incredible legacy.
PBS and the Melbourne music community will dearly miss Zulya’s energy, her warmth, and her extraordinary passion for music.
Vale Zulya Kamalova.
From Roger Holdsworth (Global Village):
"Listeners may know that local singer Zulya has been ill with cancer for some time. The family has noted that this has been seven months of suffering and hope in equal measure. Sadly, Zulya passed away a few days ago. We are devastated. She was a great friend, and a brilliant singer and musician – as well as enormously active more recently as Director of The Boite.
"Our thoughts are with Andrew and Zifa and family, and all of Zulya’s friends and fellow musicians.
"Zulya was from the Tatarstan-Udmurtia region of Central Russia. She began performing Russian and Tatar songs at the age of 9 and later studied music and languages at university level. She made a dramatic decision to settle in Australia in 1991 – in Tasmania. Inspired by the diversity of cultures, she says, she began to share her music with Australians.
"She was awarded an Honoured Artist of the Republic of Tatarstan in 2012 and her albums have won ARIA awards, awards from the National Film and Sound Archives and also Australian Live Music Awards and World Music Awards.
"It has been a wonderful journey that she has taken us on; and her music will continue to enrich us all. But she will be missed enormously. Vale Zulya!"
- Roger Holdsworth
