Charlie Barber composer
Michael Clark percussion
Barnaby Dicker film maker
Charlie Barber has worked in a wide variety of musical genres: orchestral and chamber works, film, video, music-theatre and dance. His music draws on a wide range of influences and models bringing these together in a highly personal synthesis. Although the music of the American minimalists in the late 70s formed one of the starting points for his own music, equally important were the influences of World music and the use and deconstruction of the music of the past. An important and crucial element has been his work across a number of different artforms, including dance, film, installation and performance art. This has resulted in a rich series of collaborations with artists in other disciplines. His recent recordings and touring projects include: Ludwig, a musical tribute to Beethoven; music for Jean Cocteau’s Blood of a Poet, a surrealist classic of early cinema; Boulevard of Broken Dreams for string quartet; Salomé, for percussion quartet and voices written to accompany the 1923 film starring Alla Nazimova; and Afrodisiac, an exploration of ritual, love and magic through the cultures of Africa and the African diaspora. Currently a student at Royal Northern College of Music, Michael is in high demand with ensembles and companies including Scottish Opera, Sound Affairs and Futures Chamber Ensemble. He has worked with world renowned soloists such as percussionists Arthur Lipner and Victor Mendoza, saxophonist Rob Buckland and soprano Jane Irwin. With a keen interest in chamber music, Michael also performs extensively with Beat Route Percussion Duo, which is rapidly developing a reputation for excellence in music education. He enjoys a varied performing career and has already appeared in some of the country’s foremost venues including The Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, and The Sage in Gateshead. Highlights from his career so far include performing the timpani part for a BBC recording of Enigma Variations, and playing in the 2012 tour of Charlie Barber’s Salomé. He has also performed in the extremely prestigious Cheltenham Music Festival, Buxton Festival and Three Choirs Festival. Barnaby Dicker holds a doctorate in avant-garde cinematography. In 2004, he worked with Sound Affairs creating a number of short videos for the Raw Goods tour that year. His film, Devolution (2008), a collaboration with Barber, has been shown at shown at Bath Film Festival (2008), Swn Festival, Cardiff (2008), ‘Film House’ at the National Museum of Wales, Aberystwyth (2008), AVPhD, Newport (2008), Framework Social, Swansea (2008) and West Dean College, Chichester (2010).
Stefano Giglioni performer
Born in Rome, Italy, Stefano studied in Rome and New York before moving to Los Angeles to pursue a career as an actor. He now lives in London, and has appeared in film and television as well as working as a model.
James Hall countertenor
After graduating in Music at Cardiff University, James studied at the Royal College of Music with Eiddwen Harrhy. He was awarded the Sir Geraint Evans Prize in 2009 and again in 2010, and in 2012 was a finalist in the Brooks Van Der Pump English Song Competition 2012. Solo performances include Lotti’s Dixit Dominus and J S Bach’s Magnificat with Bishop’s Stortford Choral Society, Vivaldi’s Gloria and Durante’s Magnificat in St John’s, Smith Square, J S Bach’s St John’s Passion with Lavenham Sinfonia, Bach’s B Minor Mass at St Alban’s Abbey, and John Harle’s City Solace in Southwark Cathedral. In July 2011 James was invited to perform in the Dartington International Summer School’s production of Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas. Other operatic roles include Oronte Riccardo Primo (London Handel Festival, April 2012), the Military Governor A Night at the Chinese Opera (British Youth Opera) and three new roles in the premiere of three short operas by RCM composition students in collaboration with Tete-a-Tete Opera (May 2012).
Andy Hamer lighting designer
Andy Hamer was educated in Fine Art, during which time he developed an interest in time based medium and installation sculpture. A fine tuning of his scenographic practice was achieved during the post-graduate study at Central Saint Martins College of Art & Design, London where he developed skills in film making and digital media. Further training opportunities lead him to study opera design at DAMU, School of Theatre and Fine Art, Prague. Hamer has a diverse portfolio of work: sculpture & installation site specific work, dance theatre and film. He has worked on projects shown at the Linbury Studio Theatre, Royal Opera House, Covent Garden; Robin Hayward Dance Theatre, The Place; Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Centre and the Edinburgh Festival.