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Ariel Valent | Kate Adam

Ariel Valent is a Melbourne-based composer, multi-instrumentalist and filmmaker. He has composed extensively for theatre and film, notably as a musical collaborator for Song For a Siren, which won the Fringe Award for Best Cabaret in the 1998 Melbourne Fringe Festival. He has composed music for children's theatre (Charlotte's Web in 1995), comedy theatre (In Denial, 2000, Jo Stanley and Jode J Hill) and also provided the soundtrack for the 1995 cult short film, Deep Shit.

He plays vibraphone, piano, piano accordion and percussion, and has performed and recorded with funk band Hot Pudding, African music acts Adzohu, the World Rhythm Ensemble and Valanga Khoza and the drum and dance company Colours of Pulse.

Although relatively new to filmmaking, he has had significant success. His comedy film Superheroes in Marketing was nominated for 4 awards in the 15/15 Film Festival 2002, and the rhythmical documentary, Slambangricketychuck, was awarded Best Documentary at the MAFIA (Music and Film Independent Artists) Awards in 2002. It will screen on SBS TV later this year.

Otherwise, Ariel is an Arts Project Officer at the City of Melbourne, and was recently elected Chair of the Boîte, a multicultural music organisation in Melbourne.

Ariel is also an experienced arts manager and is studying a Graduate Diploma in Arts Management at the Victorian College of the Arts. He co-ordinated the Boîte Winter Festival (World Music and A Cappella) in July-August this year and has worked in marketing and administration for the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.

Ariel Valent | Kate Adam

Kate Adam took up percussion at the age of seventeen and graduated from the classical percussion course at the VCA in 1994. Accomplishments include composing music for Japanese Noh theatre, contemporary dance, performance poetry and multi media.

Kate has performed in many ensembles exhibiting her skills as a percussionist, flautist and hammered dulcimer player. Past ensembles include world music groups Camel Magic and Pilgrims Carnival, The Judy Jacques Ensemble, folk rock singer Jodie Moran and all female percussion group Tum Tum.

Kate is also a sought after music educator, and inspires children and adults alike with her teaching of creativity through drumming ensembles. Since moving to St. Andrews, a small community in Melbourne’s north-east in 1995, she has specialised in facilitating music in the community through regular adult classes, school workshops and her student percussion extravaganzas.

Kate is also employed as a carer for people with an intellectual disability, and has recently introduced music therapy to her clients with astounding results