The following are brief introductions about the band for M.S.D. The Musical, and I encourage everybody to greet the band members by name, as they will be making an enormous contribution to the show's success! (and making you sound great!).
Gary Gallagher
Author of book, music and lyrics
Director, Co- Musical Director of Night Dream band and 2nd guitar.
E-mail: [email protected]
Gary’s musical career began early. At the age of 9, he was a tenor horn player with the Mordialloc City Band, and was competing in various eisteddfods. As a teen, he founded two rock bands, Overdose and Flesh and Blood which performed at almost every live venue in Melbourne during the 1970s and 1980s. Both bands featured Gary’s original compositions. Gary reconnected with his brass roots by playing trumpet with the St. Kilda Showband, that introduced him to the jazz music that has become his present focus. Demonstrating his versatility, Gary joined the Melbourne Chorale and the Victorian State Orchestra singing Bass in Bach’s St. Mathew’s Passion at the Victorian Concert Hall.Graduating in 1985, Gary studied Music and Drama at La Trobe University.Between 1994 and 2004 Gary was a self-employed variety artist and entertainer. He performed as a variety of characters at numerous events organized through government, local and corporate bodies in Melbourne and interstate. He also ran workshops in juggling and children’s entertainment.His involvement in community theatre began as a trumpeter in Brighton Theatre Company’s production of Bourke St. Blues and as performer in Various revues produced by the Mentone Old Time Theatre Society.
Since retiring as a full time entertainer, Gary returned to study at Monash University, where he obtained his Diploma of Education. Since then, Gary has worked as a registered music and performing arts teacher at various primary and secondary schools in Victoria and Queensland. His last contract was with Wesley College as coordinator of music at their Clunes residential campus. He has also taught private students in the Ballarat region in guitar and trumpet.
Gary’s ongoing interest in community music- making are demonstrated by his participation with the Haddon Community Concert Band, the Ballarat Memorial Concert Band and the Daylesford Swing Band, with whom he has performed at numerous events and festivals. He was recently the trumpeter for Ballarat Light Opera Company’s production of Disney’s My Son Pinoccio.
Gary’s life-long interest in musical theatre has culminated with his writing the book, music and lyrics to Midsummer’s Dream the Musical, inspired by Shakespeare’s play, A Midsummer Night’s Dream. He has finally brought together his eclectic musical history and his passion for writing songs.
You are invited to explore Gary's classroom music site using the following link:
http://mrgsmusic.weebly.com
Author of book, music and lyrics
Director, Co- Musical Director of Night Dream band and 2nd guitar.
E-mail: [email protected]
Gary’s musical career began early. At the age of 9, he was a tenor horn player with the Mordialloc City Band, and was competing in various eisteddfods. As a teen, he founded two rock bands, Overdose and Flesh and Blood which performed at almost every live venue in Melbourne during the 1970s and 1980s. Both bands featured Gary’s original compositions. Gary reconnected with his brass roots by playing trumpet with the St. Kilda Showband, that introduced him to the jazz music that has become his present focus. Demonstrating his versatility, Gary joined the Melbourne Chorale and the Victorian State Orchestra singing Bass in Bach’s St. Mathew’s Passion at the Victorian Concert Hall.Graduating in 1985, Gary studied Music and Drama at La Trobe University.Between 1994 and 2004 Gary was a self-employed variety artist and entertainer. He performed as a variety of characters at numerous events organized through government, local and corporate bodies in Melbourne and interstate. He also ran workshops in juggling and children’s entertainment.His involvement in community theatre began as a trumpeter in Brighton Theatre Company’s production of Bourke St. Blues and as performer in Various revues produced by the Mentone Old Time Theatre Society.
Since retiring as a full time entertainer, Gary returned to study at Monash University, where he obtained his Diploma of Education. Since then, Gary has worked as a registered music and performing arts teacher at various primary and secondary schools in Victoria and Queensland. His last contract was with Wesley College as coordinator of music at their Clunes residential campus. He has also taught private students in the Ballarat region in guitar and trumpet.
Gary’s ongoing interest in community music- making are demonstrated by his participation with the Haddon Community Concert Band, the Ballarat Memorial Concert Band and the Daylesford Swing Band, with whom he has performed at numerous events and festivals. He was recently the trumpeter for Ballarat Light Opera Company’s production of Disney’s My Son Pinoccio.
Gary’s life-long interest in musical theatre has culminated with his writing the book, music and lyrics to Midsummer’s Dream the Musical, inspired by Shakespeare’s play, A Midsummer Night’s Dream. He has finally brought together his eclectic musical history and his passion for writing songs.
You are invited to explore Gary's classroom music site using the following link:
http://mrgsmusic.weebly.com
Niklas Bradshaw
Co-Musical Director of Night Dream Band and lead Guitar.
Niklas Bradshaw’s musical interest began when he was 7 years old. His first instrument was the piano. With many of his family members already having lots of experience of playing the piano, he immediately started lessons. He continued playing for 6 years until he moved onto the guitar at the age of 13. Being able to read sheet music, Niklas transposed all the songs he had learned on the piano, converting them over to his father’s guitar, (quite often using only his ears as a guide).
After his parents saw he had a keen interest in guitar, they bought him his first Acoustic guitar (Cort sf-a ns)and later started him on guitar lessons. He continued playing guitar till graduating from high school.
Niklas' original influences included old musicals, video games and TV show themes, playing little riffs all picked up by using his ear. After the first few years of guitar, Niklas' tastes developed towards blues, rock and heavy metal styles. Some of the bands influencing him included Greenday, Paramore, Metallica and Tenacious D.
Towards the end of school he began an interest in drums, but stopped after 2 years of playing when his teacher moved to a different state.
After completing high school, Niklas continued his musical studies for The Diploma of Music at Oxygen College, Geelong. The course taught Niklas the basics in performing gigs, booking venues, learning to write his own music and using a studio to record the music students had created.
After completing the course at the end of 2013, he began looking for work in Ballarat. Gaining a job as a music teacher, he eventually came across a 'wanted musician' sign where he worked. He immediately called up to find Gary and was introduced to Midsummers Dream The Musical. Niklas eagerly jumped aboard, as lead guitarist and Co-Musical Director of the show.
Co-Musical Director of Night Dream Band and lead Guitar.
Niklas Bradshaw’s musical interest began when he was 7 years old. His first instrument was the piano. With many of his family members already having lots of experience of playing the piano, he immediately started lessons. He continued playing for 6 years until he moved onto the guitar at the age of 13. Being able to read sheet music, Niklas transposed all the songs he had learned on the piano, converting them over to his father’s guitar, (quite often using only his ears as a guide).
After his parents saw he had a keen interest in guitar, they bought him his first Acoustic guitar (Cort sf-a ns)and later started him on guitar lessons. He continued playing guitar till graduating from high school.
Niklas' original influences included old musicals, video games and TV show themes, playing little riffs all picked up by using his ear. After the first few years of guitar, Niklas' tastes developed towards blues, rock and heavy metal styles. Some of the bands influencing him included Greenday, Paramore, Metallica and Tenacious D.
Towards the end of school he began an interest in drums, but stopped after 2 years of playing when his teacher moved to a different state.
After completing high school, Niklas continued his musical studies for The Diploma of Music at Oxygen College, Geelong. The course taught Niklas the basics in performing gigs, booking venues, learning to write his own music and using a studio to record the music students had created.
After completing the course at the end of 2013, he began looking for work in Ballarat. Gaining a job as a music teacher, he eventually came across a 'wanted musician' sign where he worked. He immediately called up to find Gary and was introduced to Midsummers Dream The Musical. Niklas eagerly jumped aboard, as lead guitarist and Co-Musical Director of the show.
Victor Cvirn
From his earliest years, Victor has been a keen listener of music. As a youngster Victor would tap out rhythms and gravitated to the bass from an early age. At high school he took part in a number of ensembles that were formed between students of local schools culminating in the Sebaclear Stage band, conducted by Ted Lewis. Studying at Tafe , La Trobe University, and working in local radio station 3BBB Victor has combined his musicianship and interests in electronics performing at venues in Melbourne and interstate. Rene Raulin has been a great influence on Victor’s musical development and he cites McCartney, Entwhistle, Percy Jones, Mick Karn and Graham Hodge as other writers and Bassists that have influenced him. Other musical theatre work that Victor has been involved with include local productions of Anything Goes, Gypsy, Get Smart, Hello Dolly, West Side Story as bassist, and guitarist in Grease. Creswick Theatre Company’s production of Midsummer’s Dream The Musical is the latest show to benefit from Victor’s expertise.
From his earliest years, Victor has been a keen listener of music. As a youngster Victor would tap out rhythms and gravitated to the bass from an early age. At high school he took part in a number of ensembles that were formed between students of local schools culminating in the Sebaclear Stage band, conducted by Ted Lewis. Studying at Tafe , La Trobe University, and working in local radio station 3BBB Victor has combined his musicianship and interests in electronics performing at venues in Melbourne and interstate. Rene Raulin has been a great influence on Victor’s musical development and he cites McCartney, Entwhistle, Percy Jones, Mick Karn and Graham Hodge as other writers and Bassists that have influenced him. Other musical theatre work that Victor has been involved with include local productions of Anything Goes, Gypsy, Get Smart, Hello Dolly, West Side Story as bassist, and guitarist in Grease. Creswick Theatre Company’s production of Midsummer’s Dream The Musical is the latest show to benefit from Victor’s expertise.