Juba do Leão

Alan Burlison

Caixa, Timba, Alfaia

Alan is a Software Engineer who when he isn't playing with Juba do Leão is also a Voluntary Ranger for the Peak District National Park as well as being a STEM Ambassador; a programme that aims to inspire young people in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.

Angela Blackshaw

Alfaia

Angela is one of the band's newest members, having featured in almost all of Manchester's percussion groups at some stage!

April Pickett

Caixa and Flute

Classical flautist and BA Hons Music graduate April forms part of Juba do Leão’s caixa section. She also works as a cover tutor part time, spent time as a trainee percussion tutor at Meninos Oldham, and played keyboards for several years in DILE, a local ska band who have released 4 albums.

Ben Lee

Gonguê

Ben Lee Guitar, Percussion Ben's wonderfully folky background brings thoughtful melodic acoustic guitar lines to the melody band, as well as full-pelt bell playing in the drum band! Ben also plays guitar and banjo in '10p Mix' alongside Carrie Penty Mason.

Carrie Mason

Gonguê, Vocals

Carrie is a writer and singer of songs inspired by nature and the wonders she experiences in the world. Carrie is lucky enough to have a band to play alongside; Holly Prest, Ben Lee and Pat Selden (all of Juba do Leao fame) make up '10p Mix', Manchester's bubbliest four-piece lyrical folk outfit. Carrie also works alongside Creative Director Lis Murphy at Musicians Without Borders. If you'd like to come along to one of Carrie's open mic nights in Manchester to play or watch, you can find her at Gulliver's (Oldham Street) every Tuesday, or at The Pub (Grosvenor Street) every Wedsnesday. Both start at 8.30pm. For more info on these or Carrie's solo work, visit http://www.myspace.com/carriepentymason or telephone: 07854 786556

Claire Hewson

Caixa

Claire Hewson started her musical career as Miss Hilda (www.misshila.co.uk) and was first introduced to Brazilian percussion when she joined the Edinburgh Samba School, shortly after which she became one of the founding members of the legendary samba-punk band 'Bloco Vomit' (www.blocovomit.com). She joined Juba do Leão in 2005.

Dan Jones

Alfaia, Vocals

Dan is a singer/songwriter who has recently completed a degree in Popular Music & Recording at Salford University. Regularly singing at weddings and other events, he is looking to expand is experience in the future to become a full-time musician/vocalist. As well as playing in Juba do Leão, Dan fronts a band, sings in a 13 piece a capella choir, and guests on numerous other musical projects.

Eddie Collier

Alfaia

Eddie started drumming with Meninos Oldham in 2004 before joining Ruido Grande (Glossop), and later Juba do Leão. Eddie has also performed with an Indian percussion ensemble in collaboration with Oldham Pipe Band. Eddie is retired but works part time helping Special Needs children to school.

Holly Prest

Director

Holly is a percussionist with over 14 years experience in world percussion. Her passion is for Brazilian music, especially the powerful rootsy rhythms of the Northeast. In 2005, she founded Juba do Leão following the acheivement of her dream to study alongside master percussionists in Brazil, with thanks to a Travelling Fellowship Award from the Winston Churchill Trust. Holly has studied intensively in Brazil with various groups and percussionists including Nana Vasconcelos and countless batuqueiros from Recife’s Maracatu scene, and has performed in the Recife Carnival with ‘Maracatu Nação Almirante do Forte’ in 2005 and 2007. She regularly holds workshops throughout the UK sharing her vast knowledge of traditional and modern Brazilian musical styles. Holly also founded ‘Zunido’, a 7-piece melody band who regularly perform alongside the band’s drummers and dancers as part of the Juba do Leão collective. As a performer, she is often seen around Manchester seated upon a cajon with the likes of the Carrie Mason Band – a 4-piece folk outfit – and more recently alongside The Acoustic Conquistador – fast-fingered classical guitarist Arlen Connelly. Holly is also committed to the education and encouragement of young people within the creative arts, and is passionate about her work as a drum kit and percussion instrumental teacher at a local high school. On the side she enjoys creating scribblings for her friends and competitions; see her site for more... www.hollyprest.com

Ian Jackson

Caixa

Outside of Juba do Leão, Ian also has a thing for all things Egyptian percussion...

James Burlison

Alfaia

James has played different styles of world music since the age of eight. He also plays drumkit, has a keen interest in photography, and can often be found mountain biking around the Peak District with the Glossop Youth Mountain Biking Club. James is currently studying for his A-levels and hopes to study Physics at Manchester University.

Jane Fay

Gonguê and Caixa

Jane is also a member of the Republic of Swing Bateria (Manchester) and is director of Music and Play Therapy Services Ltd., providing children's therapy in the North West, working with art, music and sand. She also runs a weekend Kindermusik studio for young children.

Janet Ditchfield

Alfaia

Outside of drumming, Janet enjoys gardening, walking, yoga, and has qualified in Indian head massage and Thai yoga massage. She is also a reiki master and is part of a group that runs monthly reiki drop in sessions in Saddleworth. Janet is well known for rocking up the front line of the band with her electric energy!

Joan Davies

Gonguê, Alfaia

Joan lives in Manchester City Centre and works there too as a Green Badge tour guide and a theatre reviewer. She also teaches A level Economics and Business Studies in north and south Manchester. Joan has been learning percussion for 20 years, was a founder member of Manchester School of Samba and of Sambangra, and is delighted now to be playing her favourite Maracatu rhythm with Juba do Leão.

Laura Pickett

Alfaia

Laura is currently studying to be a social worker, working with a number of families in Manchester. She has been playing Brazilian music for 8 years, performing with The Manchester School of Samba, Republic of Swing, and of course Juba do Leão! She says that, "music is an amazing form of expression. Playing with others makes a fantastic connection and can create such a brilliant atmosphere worldwide".

Pat Selden

Alfaia, Timba, Triangle, and Tricks!

Pat Selden's a professional performer who's been playing music for the last twenty years. One day he hopes to be good. Till then he'd like to tell you that he's been around the world (not a euphemism) with Chocante and Inner Sense percussion orchestras, and currently plays with Zunido and 10p Mix when he's not throwing shapes with Juba. Of all the wonderful places his career's taken him (including Ascot and Aden), nothing can equal the stone-cold blast of appearing on Blue Peter the same day Konnie Huq did (Dec 1 1997, fact fans), which earnt him THE BADGE.

Paul Lockley

Alfaia

Paul has been a practitioner of Nichiren Buddhism for twelve years. With a passion for photography and playing percussion, he loves to find new ways of expressing his creativity and have recently started writing poetry. Cheese-on-toast lover Paul finds inspiration in the most mudane areas of life, and digital technology is a great vehicle for my expression. As a gardener of thirty years, he loves being outdoors, whatever the weather!

Richard Cross

Alfaia

Richard - alfaia powerhouse of the band - has been playing percussion for the past five years since discovering a community drumming class at The Angel Healthy Living Centre (Salford). This class opened up a new rhythmical world for Richard which lead him to travel to Brazil to see and feel the power of these powerful rhythms in their truest form.

Stella Gradwell

Alfaia

Stella has been playing alfaia with her Juba friends for 4 years and has the blisters to prove it (and names for all of them); in her words, “it’s all worth it, happy pain!” After a long break, she has once again picked up the surdo (bass drum) with Republic of Swing. She’s also learning to play the bongos and join in at the laid back jam sessions at the local pub; beer and bongos, what a way to spend a Sunday!

Sylvia Hutchinson

Alfaia

After spending several years rehearsing and performing with a number of Manchester’s percussion bands, Sylvia now focuses solely on Juba do Leão – when not walking her beloved dog in Derbyshire or planning her next horseriding trek that is!

Yasmin Wilding

Shekere and Alfaia

Yasmin is one of Juba’s fierce and passionate lionnesses! Also known as Shekere Queen, she’s still a relative newbie with an adventurous year in the Juba family under her belt. She has been studying Brazilian percussion for 6 years now, and is a member of the Anvil Street Drummers (Wigan); a community Brazilian percussion band who recently toured Germany in Dusseldorf's festival parade. An student of Music at the University of Salford in Manchester, Yasmin is actively involved in all parts of the department. She enjoys a wide range of musical influences such as jazz and opera, and is part of the soul/funk band AdelPHUNK!

Bridget Withycombe-Wharton

Dancer

Bridget, mother of two fabulous teenagers and a brand new Juba baby, works as a primary dance coordinator at Chorlton High School and is a freelance Samba and African dance teacher in both primary and secondary schools. Travel and festival lover Bridget also works developing children's fine and gross motor skills through her work. She has a passion for the use of colour and textiles, and runs art and craft workshops with children too.

Claire Platt

Dancer

Claire has been a keen dancer since 2005 after joining ‘Meninos Do Morumbi Oldham’ and has a passion for African, Cuban, and Brazilian dance. Claire has been a member of Juba do Leão since 2007. Claire dances and plays percussion for the group and uses her experience in the arts (as Education & Participation Manager for Peshkar Productions in Oldham) to try to help behind the scenes.

Genevieve Estevez-Baker

Dancer

Currently a first year student studying contemporary dance at York St John University, Genevieve hopes to make it as a professional dance artist. She is a member of the YSJ Dance Society, and Musical Production Society, and of course Juba do Leão! She has taught Ballet, Tap and Modern dance at Sanchelle School of dance in her home town of Chorlton, studied Brazilian Dance in São Paulo (Brazil) at Meninos Do Morumbi for her work experience, and been dancing since the age of four with no intention to stop!

Miranda Estevez-Baker

Dancer

Miranda is currently studying for her A Levels at Loreto Sixth Form College in Manchester. Her subjects are Art, Textile Design, English Literature, General Studies and Music. Music is her favourite and she plays the piano, drumkit and sings. She has recently participated in the college production of 'Cabaret' as a Kit-Kat Chorus girl. Performance is definitely a passion! She also enjoys Capoeira in the free time she has. In February she will be experiencing a trip to New York with the Art Department.

Nicky Thompson

Dancer

Over the last twelve years, Nicky has been dancing and performing within a variety of world music styles. Recently she decided to leave her teaching of belly dancing to follow her passion for Brazilian and African music, devoting her time to performing with Juba do Leão.

Odete

Band Mascot

Born in Glossop, Odete accompanies the band's performances and protects (amuses) the many members of the Juba family. In Brazilian Maracatu groups, the Calunga doll (or Boneca) embodies the spiritual and religious aspects of the tradition. In Oldham, Odete represents what can be done with a pair of old socks and the freaky button-eyed imagination of a 13 year old. And the little socialite is even on Facebook

Ruth Estevez-Baker

Dancer

Ruth is a writer currently working on two novels, one based on her Spanish ancestors and the perfume industry, the other on coastal erosion in Yorkshire. She teaches scriptwriting part time on the Contemporary Film and Video Course at Manchester Metropolitan University, and is a member of The Society of Authors and the South Manchester Writers' Workshop. Website: www.ruthestevez.info Blog: www.ruthestevez.blogspot.com

Carrie Mason

Gonguê and Vocals

Carrie is a writer and singer of songs inspired by nature and the wonders she experiences in the world. Carrie is lucky enough to have a band to play alongside; Holly Prest, Ben Lee and Pat Selden (all of Juba do Leao fame) make up '10p Mix', Manchester's bubbliest four-piece lyrical folk outfit. Carrie also works alongside Creative Director Lis Murphy at Musicians Without Borders. If you'd like to come along to one of Carrie's open mic nights in Manchester to play or watch, you can find her at Gulliver's (Oldham Street) every Tuesday, or at The Pub (Grosvenor Street) every Wedsnesday. Both start at 8.30pm. For more info on these or Carrie's solo work, visit http://www.myspace.com/carriepentymason or telephone: 07854 786556

Dan Jones

Shekere, Alfaia, Vocals

Dan is a singer/songwriter who has recently completed a degree in Popular Music & Recording at Salford University. Regularly singing at weddings and other events, he is looking to expand is experience in the future to become a full-time musician/vocalist. As well as playing in Juba do Leão, Dan fronts a band, sings in a 13 piece a capella choir, and guests on numerous other musical projects.

Emily Wood

Vocals, Shekere

Emily brings a voice to the band that stuns with it's alternating feminine power and soft siren-like lilt. She's even known to dance around with a shekere. True story.

Holly Prest

Vocals, Percussion

Holly is a percussionist with over 14 years experience in world percussion. Her passion is for Brazilian music, especially the powerful rootsy rhythms of the Northeast. In 2005, she founded Juba do Leão following the acheivement of her dream to study alongside master percussionists in Brazil, with thanks to a Travelling Fellowship Award from the Winston Churchill Trust. Holly has studied intensively in Brazil with various groups and percussionists including Nana Vasconcelos and countless batuqueiros from Recife’s Maracatu scene, and has performed in the Recife Carnival with ‘Maracatu Nação Almirante do Forte’ in 2005 and 2007. She regularly holds workshops throughout the UK sharing her vast knowledge of traditional and modern Brazilian musical styles. Holly also founded ‘Zunido’, a 7-piece melody band who regularly perform alongside the band’s drummers and dancers as part of the Juba do Leão collective. As a performer, she is often seen around Manchester seated upon a cajon with the likes of the Carrie Mason Band – a 4-piece folk outfit – and more recently alongside The Acoustic Conquistador – fast-fingered classical guitarist Arlen Connelly. Holly is also committed to the education and encouragement of young people within the creative arts, and is passionate about her work as a drum kit and percussion instrumental teacher at a local high school. On the side she enjoys creating scribblings for her friends and competitions; see her site for more... www.hollyprest.com

Lis Murphy

Vocals, Violin, Shekere

Lis brings her Balkans strings background and stunning vocal power to the Brazilian music forum to add a wonderful edge to Juba do Leão's melody performance. Lis also works with Musicians Without Borders; 'an international network organization that uses the power of music to connect communities, bridge divides and heal the wounds of war and conflict'.

Ben Lee

Guitar, Percussion

Ben Lee Guitar, Percussion Ben's wonderfully folky background brings thoughtful melodic acoustic guitar lines to the melody band, as well as full-pelt bell playing in the drum band! Ben also plays guitar and banjo in '10p Mix' alongside Carrie Penty Mason.

Emily Wood

Vocals, Shekere

Emily delved into the world of Brazilian music almost ten years ago, discovering the lyrical and poetic nature of the country's traditional Portuguese and Yoruba songs.

Eraldo Marques

Multi-instrumentalist

One of the band's newest members, Eraldo brings true Brazilian groove to 'Zunido' as one of its three multi-instrumentalist percussionists. Eraldo is an accomplished workshop leader and performer, having established himself in the UK in 2003 following a tour with Meninos Do Morumbi, a creative arts youth organisation from São Paulo, Brazil. Eraldo regularly performs with a number of Manchester's hotest percussion outfits, and is a lead co-ordinator of Global Grooves.

Holly Prest

Multi-instrumentalist

Holly is a percussionist with over 14 years experience in world percussion. Her passion is for Brazilian music, especially the powerful rootsy rhythms of the Northeast. In 2005, she founded Juba do Leão following the acheivement of her dream to study alongside master percussionists in Brazil, with thanks to a Travelling Fellowship Award from the Winston Churchill Trust. Holly has studied intensively in Brazil with various groups and percussionists including Nana Vasconcelos and countless batuqueiros from Recife’s Maracatu scene, and has performed in the Recife Carnival with ‘Maracatu Nação Almirante do Forte’ in 2005 and 2007. She regularly holds workshops throughout the UK sharing her vast knowledge of traditional and modern Brazilian musical styles. Holly also founded ‘Zunido’, a 7-piece melody band who regularly perform alongside the band’s drummers and dancers as part of the Juba do Leão collective. As a performer, she is often seen around Manchester seated upon a cajon with the likes of the Carrie Mason Band – a 4-piece folk outfit – and more recently alongside The Acoustic Conquistador – fast-fingered classical guitarist Arlen Connelly. Holly is also committed to the education and encouragement of young people within the creative arts, and is passionate about her work as a drum kit and percussion instrumental teacher at a local high school. On the side she enjoys creating scribblings for her friends and competitions; see her site for more... www.hollyprest.com

Lis Murphy

Violin

Lis brings her Balkans strings background and stunning vocal power to the Brazilian music forum to add a wonderful edge to Juba do Leão's melody performance. Lis also works with Musicians Without Borders; 'an international network organization that uses the power of music to connect communities, bridge divides and heal the wounds of war and conflict'.

Nicki Dupuy

Bass

Nicki plays double bass, bass guitar and percussion. She's currently also playing with Beating Wing Orchestra and a number of other bands whose musical styles include jazz, balkan, brazilian, cuban, soul and groove. She has well over ten years experience of working on all kinds of participatory music and other arts projects as a facilitator and project manager.

Pat Selden

Multi-instrumentalist

Pat Selden's a professional performer who's been playing music for the last twenty years. One day he hopes to be good. Till then he'd like to tell you that he's been around the world (not a euphemism) with Chocante and Inner Sense percussion orchestras, and currently plays with Zunido and 10p Mix when he's not throwing shapes with Juba. Of all the wonderful places his career's taken him (including Ascot and Aden), nothing can equal the stone-cold blast of appearing on Blue Peter the same day Konnie Huq did (Dec 1 1997, fact fans), which earnt him THE BADGE.

Emily Wood

Designer, Project Manager

Emily is a professional singer, dancer and costume artists. She has played an integral part in the artistic development of many of the northwest’s international music and dance groups as a performer, project manager and designer. After completing a BA Honours in embroidery at Manchester Metropolitan University Emily has been studying and developing Afro-Brazilian and international Folkloric costume design at a professional standard. Emily has developed projects with many of the UK’s key costume and carnival arts organisations including Global Grooves, Barracudas, The English National Opera and Shade Makers in the UK and studied internationally in Brazil, West Africa and India with Meninos do Morumbi, The National Ballet of Guinea and Oasis India. Her recent Carnival and costume projects have included the design and production of costume for percussion and dance collectives Juba do Leão and Bloco Novo.