Federico Parra

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Condensed Bio - 2010

Born (1983) and grown up in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Autodidact from a very young age, I teach myself Basic (programming language) when I was 7; and became a professional Pascal programmer at age 9, apart from a kind of infant-hacker causing some trouble in local BBSs.

At the same age, I decided I was going to be a musician, and started to compose some songs with my guitar and sing along with my little brother in family reunions.

I had been a Musician for more than 10 years now. I studied and practiced Chanting and Armenian Duduk; piano and percussions; composition and free improvisation; sound and electronic music; with renowned teachers and musicians, as well as in different institutions.
I created/produced/directed many projects, composed music for some short films and documentaries,
and did some Chanting teachings and workshops.

In last years, strongly touched and inpirated by the mystic music of Lama Gyurme, a Tibetan Oumze (“traditional music teacher”), I turned almost completely to Sacred/Contemplative Music. I moved to France, where I became disciple of both Lama Gyurme and David Hykes (renowned contemplative music teacher and compositor, founder of the mythic Harmonic Choir | during last year I participate in many concerts with his Choir, and we tour India for the International Festival of Sacred Arts in Delhi).

Since 8 years now I have been deeply interested in world wisdom traditions and practices;
Studying and practicing meditation (Zen oriented) periodically since 2001; regularly since 2008, and
intensely in semi-retreat (practicing the Vajrayana Ngöndro) since Jully 2009, as permanent resident of the
Buddhist congregation Dachang Vajradhara Ling (founded by Kalu Rimpoche and directed by Lama Gyurme).

I did a fair amount of psychological work, doing therapy from 1995 to 2007, with some great therapists of
very different orientations (Freudian,Jungian,Bioenergetics,Music-Therapy and Anthroposophy).

From 2007 on, I was strongly captivated by Wilber’s books and Integral Theory/Practice in general,
which changed my life in many ways, not so much for being something totally new in as much as for being an
actual model that allowed a lot of my (previously denied) being to finally express itself and take form into the world.
From that point on, I have read the most part of all Ken's written material (and much of his critics material available online as well).
Since I meet the Integral Vision, I make continuously the biggest effort I can to embrace it in any possible area of my life and in my relation to others / the world.

In 2008, having decided to move to France and knowing that moving from a 3rth world country to Europe was
“a very expensive move”, I co-invented and developed (with a long-time friend) the Garrahand; a new type of
electro-acoustic percussion musical instrument, which in one year got endorsement from musicians playing with
music-stars like Sting, Peter Gabriel, Björk, George Michael and many others, and was received with great
critics from specialized magazines.

Since 2008, then, I am founder/director of Garrahand Argentina, a company that factories and commercialize
this musical instrument into more than 10 countries over the world (especially in Europe).