Raised on Whadjuck Nyoongar Boodja in Boorloo (Perth), Jesse is a performer and composer who looks to explore exciting new musical landscapes through percussion. He is in his first year at the Australian National Academy of Music, studying with Peter Neville and John Arcaro.
He first gained an interest in the drums which he was supported by his parents to pursue, and over time, this led to his expansion into the world of percussion. In 2019, he completed a Bachelor of Music at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) under the tutelage of Tim White and Geniveve Wilkins, and has since been an active performer across Boorloo. In addition to this training, he undertook lessons in New York with Greg Zuber (The Juilliard School), Jason Haaheim (The Metropolitan Opera), Rob Knopper (The Metropolitan Opera), and Duncan Patton (Manhattan School of Music).
Whilst at WAAPA, Jesse developed a keen interest for multidisciplinary collaboration between percussion and contemporary dance from his friend and former teacher Louis Frere-Harvey. He has since collaborated, performed, and been mentored by choreographers such as Monserrat Heras, and Bernadette Lewis, and developed a long standing artistic relationship with dancer, choreographer, and friend Giorgia Schijf.
Jesse attended the Australian Percussion Gathering in 2016. He was selected to perform and attend at the 2017 American Triptych Short Course hosted by Australian National Academy of Music (ANAM), and attended the 2018 Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC) held in Indianapolis.
Following the development of his practice across the last 4 years, Jesse has been involved in performances, developments, grant funding, and residencies through various organisations; including Fremantle Arts Centre's Artist in Residence program (2022), Co3’s IN STUDIO program (2022, 2021), The Milk Carton Confessions with Thea Rossen and TURA New Music (2022), The Pickle District's "After Dark" Series (2022, 2021), 900 Seconds (of Movement) at The Blue Room Theatre (2021), Perth Fringe Festival (2021), received grant funding from Propel Youth Arts and Drug Aware (2021), and Hidden Movements (2020).
Jesse has worked with several ensembles and orchestras in Boorloo, including Defying Gravity Percussion Ensemble, Perth Orchestra Project, Fremantle Chamber Orchestra, Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra, Western Australian Youth Orchestra, Daniel Susnjar's Afro Peruvian Big Band, and The Australian Santana Experience.
Jesse is passionate about embracing all areas of life, and can often be found busting moves a dancefloor, walking through an art gallery, or riding his bike with his range of colourful shoes.
FROM:Whadjuck Nyoongar Boodja in Boorloo (Perth, WA)
Photo by Pia Johnson