The
Team
Drum Beats team brings the rhythm
of life to you in an explosive percussion of fun,
laughter and energy.
Drum Beats staff includes multi talented facilitators and percussionists
with the creativity and expertise to bring out the best in any group of people.
Rob Wines - Manager
After completing a Bachelor of Visual Arts degree,
Rob's international tennis career took precedence.
Whilst competing in France he was inspired by
the music and vibrant rhythms of the many African
communities residing there.
The memory of these rhythms led him to Latin &
African dance & drumming.
Realising that rhythm is an essential part of
an athlete's development, Rob instigated the Rhythm
in Sports programs. These innovative programs
taught tennis techniques and movement skills through
drumming & dance.
Rob's first hand experiences of professional sport
and rhythm has led him to appreciate the value
of rhythm-based activities in developing confidence,
a sense of camaraderie and for the release of
stress. Rob now manages, facilitates and plays
percussion for Drum Beats.
Angela Grima - Creative Director
Angela Grima achieved a Bachelor of Music Honours
degree as well as completing a young actor's scholarship
with Sydney Theatre Company and Bradfield College.
Angela has written and performed music for award
winning short films and in 2000 she was nominated
for the Australian guild of composing awards.
A professional flautist, jazz and opera singer,
she plays flutes from other countries and is a
dynamic percussionist.
Angela's experience using rhythm as remedial therapy
has led her to believe that everyone has musical
and rhythmic talent; some people just need help
finding it!
She has performed at The Basement, Sydney Theatre
Company, Melbourne Fringe Festival and a variety
of other Australian venues.
Angela's experience and infectious personality
is evident as she skilfully facilitates large
and small groups of people during the Drum Beats
shows.
Ian Watson - Musician
Ian Watson is a drummer/percussionist based in
Sydney, has completed a Batchelor of Arts Music
degree and has studied under some of the best
percussionists both in Australia and overseas.
He has travelled to a variety of countries to
experience and learn first hand about their cultures,
customs and musics. His teachers overseas included
masters of West African drumming/percussion, Balinese
Gamelan, Javanese kendang, Korean Samulnori and
North Indian tabla. Ian shares his vast knowledge
and passion lecturing at UWS and performing with
Extended Family, Songket, Seh Sek Hoi, Anything
but Roy, Hyde 'n' Clay Drummers and Drum Beats.
Ian has also devised a music therapy program using
drums/percussion combined with Reiki which he
has successfully implemented over the past eight
years with disability groups. His versatility
(also playing Latin and Egyptian percussion) and
skill make him a valued member of the Drum Beats
team.
Mory traore - Musician & Dancer
Mory comes from Guinea, West africa, a culture
rich in its tradition of dance and music. Until
arriving in Australia in 2006 Mory was the lead
dancer and percussionist with the Ballet Matam.
(for the uninitiated - African ballet is a dynamic
& explosive dance performed to the beat of
the drums). Mory is well respected in both France
and Africa as a teacher and performer, who loves
inter-cultural exchange and working with different
age groups & cultures.
Mory's experience and passion for music and dance
brings an exciting flavour to Drum Beats performances
at team building activities, weddings and festivals.
Ron Reeves - Musician
During his teenage years Ron was transported into
another world at a live performance by the legendary
Ravi Shankar and Alla Rakha. He was so uplifted
by this he has spent his life endeavouring to
create the same type of experience for audiences
who come to hear him play.
Ron is a multi talented musician and composer
who performs (amongst other instruments) on Sundanese
(West Javanese) kendang, the Middle Eastern tabla,
the mridangam & other South Indian drums,
and flutes from around the world.
Ron has played with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra,
Iva Davies, Synergy, Trilok Gurtu, Bill Cobham,
Hossam Ramzy, Leonard Eto, “heavy plastic”
group AC/PVC, Java Jazz, Toni Childs, Nigeria’s
“Lebe Olarinjo Masqueraders”, the
Karnataka College of Percussion (India), Jugala
Group (Indonesia), the Supremes, John Wyre’s
World Drum Ensemble and of course these days with
Drum Beats.
Chris Fields - Musician
Chris is a 3rd generation drummer and percussionist
originally from Atlanta, Georgia. He began his
musical training with his father, Jerry Fields
(a very talented percussionist and teacher), who
introduced him to Drum Kit, Afro-Cuban Percussion,
and Indian Tabla. He has since continued his Tabla
training under the intense guidance of his guruji,
Pandit Ram Chandra Suman.
Chris began playing professionally at the age
of 15 and has performed all over the U.S., Caribbean,
and Mexico. Playing everything from Jazz and Rn'B
to Salsa and Indian Classical Music.
Since moving to Sydney, Chris has continued his
musical career as an active live performer and
in demand session player. He has enjoyed performing
with the likes of Barry Gibb, Olivia Newton John
and numerous Jazz and World Music Ensembles. Chris
also runs childrens percussion groups and teaches
at The Australian Institute of Music.
Tito Schmidt - Musician & Dancer
Now residing in Sydney, Tito was born in the
Pacific Island nation of Samoa. Tito has a wealth
of experience in Polynesian music and dance. He
has trained in Hawaii, Samoa and New Zealand and
is regarded as one of the foremost traditional
Samoan fire knife performers in Australia. He
is the founder and choreographer of 'Spirit of
The Islands'. The dexterous Tito has also trained
in contemporary dance and has his own fashion
label ‘Lavashe Couture’. Look out
for Tito’s latest creations on The catwalk!
Drum Beats multi cultural programs are much enhanced
by the multi talented Tito Schmidt!
yacou Mbaye - Musician & Dancer
Yacou was born in Dakar, Senegal and coming from
a family of musicians, it is no wonder that from
a tender age he exhibited a flair for music and
dance.
His first performance was at the age of 6 for
a crowd of 10,000 people! It must have been an
enjoyable experience for Yacou, as in 1997 and
again in 2000 Yacou and his sister Mejoure won
the highly regarded ‘Oscar de Vacance’
dance and percussion competition. This competition
starts at a district level with the winners progressing
to represent their district against the other
district winners. This process continues until
only representatives of the 14 major regions remain
to compete in the national final
Yacou’s instruments of choice are Sabar
and Tama/Talking Drum – (A small drum which
is played whilst being held under the armpit).
Yacou has a warm easy going personality that makes
him popular wherever he goes.
Steven Body - Musician
Musician, teacher and outdoor education facilitator.
Steve is a veteran of several African study tours
where he learnt traditional drumming technique,
he is a founding member of Mohata (The dynamic
African percussion group). He has performed with
funk group Grover and various Singapore based
jazz groups.
This rich musical background combined with ten
years facilitating children and adults in experiential
learning give him a unique perspective through
which to bring music to the greater community.
Karen Wray - Musician
Karen Wray has been playing and teaching Arabic
percussion for seventeen years. Born in the UK,
Karen came to live in Sydney twenty years ago
and was completely captivated by a Middle Eastern
music session she attended in her early years
in the country. From that day she has studied
the music, dance and culture of this region and
has traveled to Egypt and Lebanon to further learn
and live the music. Karen also holds a passion
for African percussion, making her skills both
blended and broad. Her skills have been well sought
after for Arabic weddings, festivals and multicultural
events.
Simon Peart - Musician
Simon the Stilt Walking percussionist!
Simon comes to Drum Beats with an extensive background
encompassing Latin Percussion, Vocals, Capoeira,
Acrobatics and Theatre.
The eclectic nature of Simon's skills can see
him playing percussion with the Sydney Samba School,
Touring Europe & Sth America with Indigenous
people in theatre productions, singing in choir/theatre
tours through Asia and even popping up on children’s
TV for the ABC.
A generous nature and social conscience has also
seen Simon giving his time as a Founding Member
& Chairman to the Australia Capoeira Association
and as a Founding Member & Administrator of
Regeneration Culture Inc.- (Community access,
multi-arts facility based on principles of recycling
and social development)
Simons wide array of skills & experience with
both children & adults gives Drum Beats an
incredibly versatile team member.
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