As a composer and arranger Dave writes in a range of styles including classical, jazz and folk. He has also collaborated with some of the biggest names in the dance music business including international trance producer Darren Tate and BBC Radio 1 DJ Judge Jules. He has worked as a record producer in a wide variety of genres including dance music, rock, classical, big band and folk

Dave was born inSwansea, South Wales in 1984 and studied at theRoyalWelshCollegeof Music & Drama, graduating in 2006. During his time studying he became the first and only percussionist to win the college’s annual concerto competition and performed concertos with the wind orchestra, brass band and symphony orchestra.

After graduating Dave embarked on a career as a percussion soloist and regularly performs solo recitals and orchestral concertos at the country’s foremost venues includingLondon’s South Bank Centre,Birmingham’s Symphony Hall, The Sage Gateshead, Wales Millennium Centre and St. David’s Hall,Cardiff.

Dave released his debut solo album Rhythmic Renaissance in 2007. The CD is a collection of accessible music for solo percussion and features the most popular works from Dave’s solo recitals over the last few years.

www.davedanford.co.uk

]]> http://elitepercussion.com/profiles/uk/dave-danford/feed/ 0 http://elitepercussion.com/profiles/uk/jon-sterckx http://elitepercussion.com/profiles/uk/jon-sterckx#comments Sat, 07 Jan 2012 21:47:11 +0000 ElitePercussion http://elitepercussion.com/?p=181 Jon works as a freelance musician, primarily as a performer, but also works as an instrumental teacher, session musician and delivers workshops in schools & colleges & is an Associate Lecturer at theUniversityofPlymouth.

Jon’s music often explores combining rhythmic ideas and techniques between different instruments and musical forms, both in his solo work and in collaborations. He also combines this with technology through computer based studio recording and his unique live sampling performances.

He has performed with various artists and groups including multi instrumental duo Taaliqa, the duo Tandj , based on South Indian devotional music, as well as Indian classical music, and ‘Drumscapes’ – his unique solo multi-percussion live sampling performances.

Collaborations with theatre and dance companies:

In 1997 Jon was the musical director for a Theatre project with East Glamorgan Polytechnic on a piece performed atGlastonburyfestival.

In 2007 Jon worked as the musical director for Attik Dance company, based inPlymouth, on the ‘Clean Sweep” project which was performed across the South West UK.

Jon has also collaborated a number of times with dancers at the ‘In The Flesh’ events held at the Barbican Theatre inPlymouth, using live percussion sampling.

Tuition & Training:

Jon’s tabla tuition began inCardiffwith Harjinder Singh Matharu fromBirmingham. Harjinder gave Jon a good solid foundation in tabla playing between 1994 – 1998 as well as the encouragement & inspiration to commit himself seriously to the instrument.

In 1994 / 1995, Jon returned toIndiawhere he learned from Shivanand Bhandari at the Naadashree Arts Institute in Kumta,Karnataka,India.

In 1998 & 1999, Jon returned toIndiaand studied with Kailash Nishad in Benares, (Varanasi) inNorth India, a city renowned for the study of North Indian (Hindustani) music.

Jon’s other musical studies include completing a BA ( Hons ) Music degree at Dartington College of Arts in 2000, where his main subject was in composing music for live performance.

Jon continues to learn and develop as a musician and percussionist through his own practice and playing, and through his musical collaborations with the talented musicians that he works with.

www.jonsterckx.co.uk

Simone regularly performs with the internationally renowned BackBeatPercussion Quartet of which she is a founder member. The group tours extensively inJapan andAmerica and have also given concerts inZimbabwe, the Cayman Islands and throughoutEurope. In addition to recording 2 CDs and numerous international TV and radio broadcasts the group has won several competitions including the Royal Over – Seas League Ensemble Prize (1997), The Osaka International Chamber Music Festa (1999) and The USA Concert Artists Guild (2001) which led to a USA debut at The Weill Hall – Carnegie Hall. The group has commissioned several new works and its 2002 Proms debut was broadcast live on BBC television.

In 1997 Simone formed Equivox with leading saxophonist Rob Buckland and Peter Lawson (pianist), and this contemporary music group record and perform internationally. They have commissioned several new works and their debut album ‘The Time is Now’ was released to critical acclaim in 2006. Simone collaborates with various musicians on projects and continues to work as a solo recitalist with pianist/organist Julian Wilkins. Her most recent collaborations include a series of concerts with internationally renowned jazz pianist Jason Rebello and a continued range of performances with The BBC Singers and Ex Cathedra.

Simone devises and presents concerts and workshops to children of all ages and works annually with Young WorldUKwho produce concerts featuring large choirs (up to 8000 children) inUKarenas including the Manchester Evening News Arena, working with musicians including Beverley Knight, Lee Ryan and Heather Small

She is frequently asked to adjudicate at national and international brass and wind band competitions, percussion festivals and events for BBC Radio, and speaks regularly at events concerning performance skills, the development of concerts and workshops for children and general percussion topics.

Simone Rebello is a solo artist and endorsee for Yamaha MusicUK, Sabian Cymbals and Mike Balter Mallets