Unitopia Tim Irrgang

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Tim Irrgang began studying drums in 1986, subsequently taking up tuned percussion in 1992 under the direction of Jim Bailey and Amanda Grigg at Adelaide University. He completed his Bachelor of Music (Hons) in 1996. During this time he gained valuable experience playing in various musical settings which included the Adelaide University Wind Ensemble (National Champions 1992-95), Percussion Ensemble, Big Band 1,The Adelaide Connection (jazz vocal group), and The Elder Conservatorium Symphony Orchestra. In 1996 he spent a month at ISSU University, Yogyarkata, Indonesia, with fellow Adelaide percussionists on a cultural exchange. While at University, Tim and some fellow students formed a percussion quartet called The Rhythm Works. The quartet played at the 1998 Fringe Festival, performed live on ABC radio and appeared on television. They were actively involved in the ASME National Conference held in Adelaide in 2001, and is currently part of the Musica Viva in Schools programme. This has allowed Tim to do many workshops/concerts with many young students throughout South and Western Australia. In 2006 they will be touring South Australia, country Victoria, and Singapore. In December 1999 Tim travelled to South Africa with the Australian Aboriginal Jazz Connection – Warkala, to perform at WOMAD – Living Treasures Festival in Durban, as well as The Standard Bank Jazz Festival in Mamelodi, and also in various venues in Pretoria and Johannesburg. The tour also included participating in workshops, performing and recording with some of the local South African artists. The Hormingo Ensemble, of which Tim was a member until they disbanded in 2003, was involved in various events such as the Elder Conservatorium Evening and Lunchtime Concert series, Sunday Salon at the Festival Theatre, Bundaleer Forest Music Festival and live to air broadcasts on 5UV and ABC Classic FM. They were the first group to be part of the Musica Viva, Menage Series in South Australia. In June/July of 2001 the group travelled to Malaysia with South Australian trade delegates to provide musical entertainment for official functions held in Kuala Lumpur and Penang. Tim first had the opportunity to play with The Adelaide Symphony Orchestra as part of the Adelaide Festival of the Arts, with their Symphony Under the Stars in 2004. Further work followed, including The Australian Ballet, The Zep Boys ‘Led Zeppelin Tribute’ and The ASO's Masters Series to name a few. He continues to work with the orchestra on a casual basis. As a freelance percussionist, Tim has had the opportunity to record and play with various local artists/groups and perform at a variety of events. These include The South Australian Police Band, Etype jazz, Lucifer's Lounge, Cathie Renner, J.C. Jazz, The Australian Girls Choir, Orianthi, Boogiemen (Joe Cocker Tribute), Flat on your Bacherach, Akhter Jahan, and Rataque. Events include, Glenelg Jazz Festival, Adelaide Fringe Festival, Adelaide Arts Festival, Adelaide Cabaret Festival, Bundaleer Forest Music Festival, Come Out Festival, Tour Down Under, Tasting Australia, and Womad. At Easter in 2005 Tim was adjudicator for solo percussion competitions at the National Band Championships, and was called upon to play for Cirque Du Soleil 'Quidam' (May-June 2005) for the majority of the Adelaide season. Tim's current performing commitments are with Unitopia, The Liars Bench, Fig Jam, The Bob Johnson Big Band, TWIT (Thompson, Whitney, Irrgang Trio), and The Rhythm Works. Tim also tutors privately at some of Adelaide's leading colleges, and has also been employed by Adelaide University to tutor in the Diploma of Education (percussion workshops) and CASM (Centre for Aboriginal Studies in Music). BACK to BIO	Tim Irrgang Tuned & Un-tuned Percussion Equipment: Tim uses an array of tuned and un-tuned percussion when he performs live including congas, bongos, djembe, assorted hand percussion, vibraphone, marimba, glockenspiel, xylophone and timpani. He is currently exploring the possibility of using a midi controller to trigger samples enabling him to become even more versatile as a percussionist.

Tim Irrgang began studying drums in 1986, subsequently taking up tuned percussion in 1992 under the direction of Jim Bailey and Amanda Grigg at Adelaide University. He completed his Bachelor of Music (Hons) in 1996.

During this time he gained valuable experience playing in various musical settings which included the Adelaide University Wind Ensemble (National Champions 1992-95), Percussion Ensemble, Big Band 1,The Adelaide Connection (jazz vocal group), and The Elder Conservatorium Symphony Orchestra. In 1996 he spent a month at ISSU University, Yogyarkata, Indonesia, with fellow Adelaide percussionists on a cultural exchange.

While at University, Tim and some fellow students formed a percussion quartet called The Rhythm Works. The quartet played at the 1998 Fringe Festival, performed live on ABC radio and appeared on television. They were actively involved in the ASME National Conference held in Adelaide in 2001, and is currently part of the Musica Viva in Schools programme. This has allowed Tim to do many workshops/concerts with many young students throughout South and Western Australia. In 2006 they will be touring South Australia, country Victoria, and Singapore.

In December 1999 Tim travelled to South Africa with the Australian Aboriginal Jazz Connection – Warkala, to perform at WOMAD – Living Treasures Festival in Durban, as well as The Standard Bank Jazz Festival in Mamelodi, and also in various venues in Pretoria and Johannesburg. The tour also included participating in workshops, performing and recording with some of the local South African artists.

The Hormingo Ensemble, of which Tim was a member until they disbanded in 2003, was involved in various events such as the Elder Conservatorium Evening and Lunchtime Concert series, Sunday Salon at the Festival Theatre, Bundaleer Forest Music Festival and live to air broadcasts on 5UV and ABC Classic FM. They were the first group to be part of the Musica Viva, Menage Series in South Australia. In June/July of 2001 the group travelled to Malaysia with South Australian trade delegates to provide musical entertainment for official functions held in Kuala Lumpur and Penang.

Tim first had the opportunity to play with The Adelaide Symphony Orchestra as part of the Adelaide Festival of the Arts, with their Symphony Under the Stars in 2004. Further work followed, including The Australian Ballet, The Zep Boys ‘Led Zeppelin Tribute’ and The ASO's Masters Series to name a few. He continues to work with the orchestra on a casual basis.

As a freelance percussionist, Tim has had the opportunity to record and play with various local artists/groups and perform at a variety of events. These include The South Australian Police Band, Etype jazz, Lucifer's Lounge, Cathie Renner, J.C. Jazz, The Australian Girls Choir, Orianthi, Boogiemen (Joe Cocker Tribute), Flat on your Bacherach, Akhter Jahan, and Rataque.

Events include, Glenelg Jazz Festival, Adelaide Fringe Festival, Adelaide Arts Festival, Adelaide Cabaret Festival, Bundaleer Forest Music Festival, Come Out Festival, Tour Down Under, Tasting Australia, and Womad. At Easter in 2005 Tim was adjudicator for solo percussion competitions at the National Band Championships, and was called upon to play for Cirque Du Soleil 'Quidam' (May-June 2005) for the majority of the Adelaide season.

Tim's current performing commitments are with Unitopia, The Liars Bench, Fig Jam, The Bob Johnson Big Band, TWIT (Thompson, Whitney, Irrgang Trio), and The Rhythm Works.

Tim also tutors privately at some of Adelaide's leading colleges, and has also been employed by Adelaide University to tutor in the Diploma of Education (percussion workshops) and CASM (Centre for Aboriginal Studies in Music).