the world of gayeCOME ON GET HAPPY
June 10th 2008 03:05
Below are a few recent testimonials about one of the latest bands doing a lot of work in Sydney. If you like jazz, if you like swing or if you just want to see superiour musicians and truly great singers come along to the Q bar, Oxford Street this Saturday Night and have yourself a ball.
"Thank you so much for all the work and effort you and the team put in last night. It was an awesome night and I know everyone enjoyed themselves. The Velvet Set really made the night for what it was, and the professionalism of everyone, was truly second to none! Thank you, thank you, thank you!... Again, thanks so much and I will definitely be using and recommending you and the band again”. Melinda McCallum, Stellar LifeStyle Management.
"The band were awesome. Perfect for that style of event and the guests and our client loved them. Thanks for putting it together so professionally". Darren Waide, Managing Director, Aztech Events.
"The feedback regarding the The Velvet Set has been amazing – thank you again for your professionalism and commitment to this event. It was a sensational evening and we will certainly be working with you again soon". Julia Barnard, Creative Director, This Space Event Studio
The Velvet Set do a fantastic show and the dancers will give you added entertainment. Whatever age you are you will enjoy this wonderful band. Come along and see for yourself.
If you doubt what I am telling you just read the bio's of the band members below, each gifted in their own right.
Vocals – Evan Mcinnes is an extremely gifted, classical trained, scholarship winning vocalist who completed his tertiary studies at the prestigious McDonald College of Performing Arts in Sydney. In 2002 he performed for P&O in the UK and Netherlands aboard the ‘Pride of Hull’ and still continues to perform regularly as a solo artist touring his own show on the Australian cabaret circuit.
Vocals – Sara Oconnor is a Sydney based signer, with a back ground in multiple genres of music including Opera, Jazz and Swing. Her love of music has taken her all over the world searching for different sounds, musical experiences and performing opportunities. She was enthusiastic to start studying music from an early age and later obtained a Bachelor of Creative Arts from Wollongong University majoring in music performance & acting. Sara has also studied under the guide of Jane Edwards, Nicky Crayson, Freddie Wilson and Virna Sanzone. Her versatility and range spanning more than 3 octaves sees her working regularly with the a cappella group Sway, DJ Meem, The Velvet Set and most recently The Boom Band.
Trumpet – John Pennings began playing Trumpet at age 10 and went on to study at the Conservatorium of Music in Sydney. He is currently a freelance musician and jazz educator who has performed with some of the biggest names in Australian Jazz such as: James Morrison, John Morrison’s ‘Swing City’, Emma Pask, Barbara Morrison, Glenn Shorrock, Monica Trapaga, Ignatius Jones, Jeff Duff, Judy Bailey, Rhonda Burchmore, Christine Anu, Doug Williams, Catherine Hunter, Leonie Page, Ian Cooper, The Rat Pack’s Back, Pardon me boys, The Ed Wilson Big Band, The Sydney All Star Big Band, The Dan Barnett Big Band and the Buddy Holly Show.
Baritone Saxophone – Edwin Schots started his musical career in his native country, the Netherlands, in 1989 studying Jazz Performance on saxophone at the Royal Conservatorium, The Hague, and bass guitar at the Rotterdam Conservatorium. Whilst studying he had the great fortune to play with artists such as Dizzie Gillespie and Pat Metheny and subsequently formed several highly successful jazz, rock and soul ensembles. In 1993 he moved to Australia and continued his career playing in various Sydney groups: United Notions, the Honey drippers, Heart ‘n’ Soul, What Is Hip and the Enormous Horns to name a few. Ed also expanded his field to include performing in show orchestras: Miss Saigon and Crazy for You. Ed also performs with Bump City and the Bellhops. He is sought after as both a teacher and freelance musician in the Sydney Jazz scene.
Tenor Saxophone – David Bell is Musical Director of The Velvet Set and also performs with other popular corporate bands: The Wonder Brass, The Sydney Metro Big Band and funk band The Trapz. He has also performed with various Jazz ensembles and has been playing professionally for 8 years. He was trained at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music where he graduated in 2006 with a Bachelor of Music, majoring in Jazz Performance with a Distinction average. He has studied with Australia’s top Jazz musicians such as Judy Bailey, Dale Barlow and Craig Scott. Dave also plays alto sax, piano, clarinet and flute.
Trombone – Pat Muldrew has studied music for 15 years with trombone being his principle instrument although he also plays piano and sings. His formative education began at under conducter\performer Jim Wiseman and former Sydney Symphony Orchestra bass trombonist Alan Mewett. Patrick also studied at the Conservatorium of Music in Sydney under the guidance of the SSO's Scott Kinmont and the AOBO's Greg Van der Struik. During this time he also expanded further into the jazz, playing trombone and singing in Judy Bailey's Jazz Connection big band for several years. Since graduating in 2006 Patrick has been a freelance performer and music teacher.
Guitar – Graham Coupland is the founding member & Manager of the Velvet Set. He has over 20 years experience in the Australian music industry, having recorded, performed and toured internationally with some of this countries biggest acts, Namely: The Church, The Whitlams, Ed Kuepper, Margot Smith and Platonic. He has being playing guitar for over 30 years and when not performing runs a commercial recording studio, music production company and independent record label. Graham brings a wealth of talent and experience to the Velvet Set.
Piano – Sam Boyd completed an Associate Diploma of Music at the University of Tasmania in 1998 and has been playing professionally for 15 years. Majoring in Hammond organ, Wurlitzer, Rhodes, clavinet, piano, and guitar he plays a wide variety of styles including: funk, soul, reggae, hip-hop, jazz, latin, blues, rock, folk & world music. He has performed and toured across Europe & Asia with numerous musicians and bands, most notably supporting Joe Cocker on his recent Australian tour. Sam has also toured with Adam Brand, James Blundell, Steve Prestwich (Cold Chisel) and Guy Sebastian (Australia Idol Winner) to name but a few.
Piano – James McCauley has performed for a number of years with various bands both in Australia and internationally, mainly performing jazz but also blues, rock, funk, bluegrass and soul. He has studied with some of Sydney's most prominent jazz musicians and currently attends the Sydney Conservatorium of Music in Sydney part-time. James also performs regularly on the Sydney Jazz circuit with the Blacktoprollers, the Smokin’ Few, Generation Gap and the Phat Motif.
Bass – Hal Strewe is the youngest member of the Velvet Set at just 21 years of age yet he has already established himself as one of the most talented and sought after bass players in the Sydney Jazz scene. Although still in his final year at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, he demonstrates a skill level well above his years, thanks in part to his training with Jazz greats Craig Scott and Mike Nock.
Bass – Pete Edmunds began playing bass at the age of 12 and at 19 joined Dion Jones and the Filth playing covers and originals around Sydney and New South Wales. From here he joined the group Sparkadia, giving him the opportunity to tour and play with international acts such as Tegan and Sarah, the Bravery and home grown hero Ben Lee. Pete then decided to further his training at the Conservatorium of Music in Sydney where he is currently in his second year of the Jazz Degree course.
Drums – Matthew Bell has studied for 15 years with some of Sydney’s leading Jazz drummers, namely Derek Barg & Gordon Reitmiester. Although only 24 years of age, Matthew has toured locally with several prominent Swing & Jazz bands and now has a roster of his own students.
"Thank you so much for all the work and effort you and the team put in last night. It was an awesome night and I know everyone enjoyed themselves. The Velvet Set really made the night for what it was, and the professionalism of everyone, was truly second to none! Thank you, thank you, thank you!... Again, thanks so much and I will definitely be using and recommending you and the band again”. Melinda McCallum, Stellar LifeStyle Management.
"The band were awesome. Perfect for that style of event and the guests and our client loved them. Thanks for putting it together so professionally". Darren Waide, Managing Director, Aztech Events.
"The feedback regarding the The Velvet Set has been amazing – thank you again for your professionalism and commitment to this event. It was a sensational evening and we will certainly be working with you again soon". Julia Barnard, Creative Director, This Space Event Studio
The Velvet Set do a fantastic show and the dancers will give you added entertainment. Whatever age you are you will enjoy this wonderful band. Come along and see for yourself.
If you doubt what I am telling you just read the bio's of the band members below, each gifted in their own right.
Vocals – Sara Oconnor is a Sydney based signer, with a back ground in multiple genres of music including Opera, Jazz and Swing. Her love of music has taken her all over the world searching for different sounds, musical experiences and performing opportunities. She was enthusiastic to start studying music from an early age and later obtained a Bachelor of Creative Arts from Wollongong University majoring in music performance & acting. Sara has also studied under the guide of Jane Edwards, Nicky Crayson, Freddie Wilson and Virna Sanzone. Her versatility and range spanning more than 3 octaves sees her working regularly with the a cappella group Sway, DJ Meem, The Velvet Set and most recently The Boom Band.
Trumpet – John Pennings began playing Trumpet at age 10 and went on to study at the Conservatorium of Music in Sydney. He is currently a freelance musician and jazz educator who has performed with some of the biggest names in Australian Jazz such as: James Morrison, John Morrison’s ‘Swing City’, Emma Pask, Barbara Morrison, Glenn Shorrock, Monica Trapaga, Ignatius Jones, Jeff Duff, Judy Bailey, Rhonda Burchmore, Christine Anu, Doug Williams, Catherine Hunter, Leonie Page, Ian Cooper, The Rat Pack’s Back, Pardon me boys, The Ed Wilson Big Band, The Sydney All Star Big Band, The Dan Barnett Big Band and the Buddy Holly Show.
Baritone Saxophone – Edwin Schots started his musical career in his native country, the Netherlands, in 1989 studying Jazz Performance on saxophone at the Royal Conservatorium, The Hague, and bass guitar at the Rotterdam Conservatorium. Whilst studying he had the great fortune to play with artists such as Dizzie Gillespie and Pat Metheny and subsequently formed several highly successful jazz, rock and soul ensembles. In 1993 he moved to Australia and continued his career playing in various Sydney groups: United Notions, the Honey drippers, Heart ‘n’ Soul, What Is Hip and the Enormous Horns to name a few. Ed also expanded his field to include performing in show orchestras: Miss Saigon and Crazy for You. Ed also performs with Bump City and the Bellhops. He is sought after as both a teacher and freelance musician in the Sydney Jazz scene.
Tenor Saxophone – David Bell is Musical Director of The Velvet Set and also performs with other popular corporate bands: The Wonder Brass, The Sydney Metro Big Band and funk band The Trapz. He has also performed with various Jazz ensembles and has been playing professionally for 8 years. He was trained at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music where he graduated in 2006 with a Bachelor of Music, majoring in Jazz Performance with a Distinction average. He has studied with Australia’s top Jazz musicians such as Judy Bailey, Dale Barlow and Craig Scott. Dave also plays alto sax, piano, clarinet and flute.
Trombone – Pat Muldrew has studied music for 15 years with trombone being his principle instrument although he also plays piano and sings. His formative education began at under conducter\performer Jim Wiseman and former Sydney Symphony Orchestra bass trombonist Alan Mewett. Patrick also studied at the Conservatorium of Music in Sydney under the guidance of the SSO's Scott Kinmont and the AOBO's Greg Van der Struik. During this time he also expanded further into the jazz, playing trombone and singing in Judy Bailey's Jazz Connection big band for several years. Since graduating in 2006 Patrick has been a freelance performer and music teacher.
Guitar – Graham Coupland is the founding member & Manager of the Velvet Set. He has over 20 years experience in the Australian music industry, having recorded, performed and toured internationally with some of this countries biggest acts, Namely: The Church, The Whitlams, Ed Kuepper, Margot Smith and Platonic. He has being playing guitar for over 30 years and when not performing runs a commercial recording studio, music production company and independent record label. Graham brings a wealth of talent and experience to the Velvet Set.
Piano – Sam Boyd completed an Associate Diploma of Music at the University of Tasmania in 1998 and has been playing professionally for 15 years. Majoring in Hammond organ, Wurlitzer, Rhodes, clavinet, piano, and guitar he plays a wide variety of styles including: funk, soul, reggae, hip-hop, jazz, latin, blues, rock, folk & world music. He has performed and toured across Europe & Asia with numerous musicians and bands, most notably supporting Joe Cocker on his recent Australian tour. Sam has also toured with Adam Brand, James Blundell, Steve Prestwich (Cold Chisel) and Guy Sebastian (Australia Idol Winner) to name but a few.
Piano – James McCauley has performed for a number of years with various bands both in Australia and internationally, mainly performing jazz but also blues, rock, funk, bluegrass and soul. He has studied with some of Sydney's most prominent jazz musicians and currently attends the Sydney Conservatorium of Music in Sydney part-time. James also performs regularly on the Sydney Jazz circuit with the Blacktoprollers, the Smokin’ Few, Generation Gap and the Phat Motif.
Bass – Hal Strewe is the youngest member of the Velvet Set at just 21 years of age yet he has already established himself as one of the most talented and sought after bass players in the Sydney Jazz scene. Although still in his final year at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, he demonstrates a skill level well above his years, thanks in part to his training with Jazz greats Craig Scott and Mike Nock.
Bass – Pete Edmunds began playing bass at the age of 12 and at 19 joined Dion Jones and the Filth playing covers and originals around Sydney and New South Wales. From here he joined the group Sparkadia, giving him the opportunity to tour and play with international acts such as Tegan and Sarah, the Bravery and home grown hero Ben Lee. Pete then decided to further his training at the Conservatorium of Music in Sydney where he is currently in his second year of the Jazz Degree course.
Drums – Matthew Bell has studied for 15 years with some of Sydney’s leading Jazz drummers, namely Derek Barg & Gordon Reitmiester. Although only 24 years of age, Matthew has toured locally with several prominent Swing & Jazz bands and now has a roster of his own students.
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