Along with playing the fiddle, banjo, a little guitar and drums, Steve sometimes sings.
He has a rich musical background having played saxophone and drums in many rock, soul, reggae, post-rock, and avant-jazz bands before focussing on American Old Time fiddle music. He currently plays fiddle and banjo in the ceilidh/barn dance band CUT A SHINE and also with his own band THE OLD TIME WASTERS.
Steve is also known for his work writing music and performing in the world of contemporary dance through his long (33 years) collaboration with choreographer Lea Anderson (CHOLMONDELEYS & FEATHERSTONEHAUGHS) and other companies including THE SOFA TRIO (Hungary), RETINA DANCE, AKRAM KHAN and NEW ART CLUB.
He also plays congas, fiddle and banjo for dance classes at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music And Dance where he has been an accompanist for 20 years.
At the age of 13 Peter asked his dad if he could buy a snare drum, and his dad was not keen and said it would be a five minute wonder! Here we are numerous years later and he is still playing, has traveled all over the world with his drum stix playing with different bands and styles of music. Peter’s professional career started at the age of 17 with P&O on the Arcadia, then he played for many years on the QE2 backing famous name artists that came on board. He also had professional drum tuition in New York. He toured with Roy Orbison and The Pasadena Roof Orchestra.
Peter has been running his own band Tuxedo Class for over 25 years playing for weddings corporate events and private parties. Peter has played for Magpie Dance for the last five years and loves the energy that drums create for the participants. Peter’s hobbies are sailing a Laser 2000 dingy and he is also a volunteer for the RYA salability scheme which teaches people with disabilities to sail.
Hans is a professional musician and music teacher who has worked as Magpie Dance’s lead musician for over 20 years. Hans has been instrumental in developing Magpie Dance’s unique live music methodology.
Dave is very experienced musician who has worked for many companies, artists and bands within a wide musical field. He has performed as a pianist, keyboards player, vocalist and musical director, and worked as an arranger and composer, most noticably for five years during his position of musical director with the famous American band, ‘The Drifters’.
Dave has been working for Magpie Dance for the last fourteen years in Bromley, Orpington and Greenwich and still very much enjoys the collaboration with all concerned. He also previously worked for nine years as a part time instrumental and music teacher, music tutor and lecturer for ‘Access to Music’ at Bromley College, Riverston School in SE London and Barking and Dagenham college of Performing Arts. More recently he has been teaching for EcaM (Every Child a Musician) in primary and secondary schools in Newham, and will be working for the Chobham Academy in Stratford from September. Dave also has some knowledge of tenor and alto saxophone, flute, clarinet and guitar, all of which he enjoys playing.
Simon’s experiences in music over the past decade have made him a versatile musician having performed in a wide variety of styles, such as theatre work, Big Bands, Small group Jazz, Rock/fusion, functions and original music. Simon has also gained a vast experience of recording from free jazz for film soundtracks, to singles for pop/rock bands. Some of Simon’s most recent work includes being M.D for the Pantomime at the Churchill Theatre in Bromley, The Boogie Knights and his own project CoverCon.
Simon’s education includes studying at Canterbury Christ Church University (BMus) as well as the Guildhall School Of Music and Drama (Mmus). Here he studied drums under Trevor Tomkins, Ralph Salmins and Andrew Bain.
Simon has worked for Magpie Dance over the past two years including performing for two groups in the 30th Anniversary show.
