Multi-directional Opera
for the 21st Century
for the 21st Century
Whaletone Opera
- Act 2 Guest Artists
- Act 2 Guest Artists
Ben McCabe
Ben plays drum kit, percussion, horn, sings and does some MDing. It all started when he went to Off the Rails creative jazz orchestra in Morecambe to try and play drum kit and was then shoe-horned into various tight fitting musical garments.He works for More Music in Morecambe where weeks are passed running streetbands, hanging out with parents and toddlers, writing lists and bearing ill-judged grudges. Furthermore, he occasionally has the opportunity to get carried away on the drums with abashed folk-rockers The Pier Group.
Recently he's been saying, "yes" the results being playing horn as part of the Rosetta Requiem project; percussion in Howard Haigh's "Land of Light"; and all of the above at The Manchester Jazz Festival in Deep Cabaret.
Melissa Holding
Melissa plays piano, accordion, koto and shamisen (Japanese 3-stringed banjo). She trained at the Royal College of Music and was recipient of 2 year Mombusho Scholarship from the Japanese Government for research into traditional music.She's worked as music Director, composer and performer in Katie Mitchell's productions of Ivanov and Ted Hughes' adaptation of The Oresteia, both at the Royal National Theatre; as a performer with Oxford-based Butoh group Café Reason; composer and performer for Heidi S. Durning, Kyoto-based dancer in La Mama and Solstice.
Other work includes touring and recording with East Whistle, playing accordion with Montz Matsumoto Band and as music director with Partners Theatre Company.
Anna Barry
