JUSTIN KUTYLOWSKI [GUITAR | VOCALS] originally from Deerfield, New Hampshire USA, has been playing guitar and singing for over thirty years. He has played extensively throughout Australia and America as both vocalist and instrumental guitarist and has played alongside an eclectic range of other acts including Hank Marvin, Blue King Brown and Andrew Winton. Justin is very adept in multiple musical styles including flamenco, classical, gypsy jazz and bluegrass and has performed solo and in ensembles.
MARCUS PERROZZI [PERCUSSION] recently returned to Australia after living his childhood dream of touring the world, playing percussion in the internationally acclaimed show Dralion by Cirque du Soleil. Marcus graduated from WAAPA with a Bachelor of Performing Arts (Music) degree in 2004, where he won the Winstanley Prize. Marcus also completed a Graduate Diploma of Education at Edith Cowan University, and has recently achieved his Level 3 Classroom Teacher status with the WA Education Department’s Instrumental Music School Services. Marcus is a sessional staff member at WAAPA where he lectures in Percussion and regularly works with the students of the Defying Gravity Percussion Ensemble. He’s a foundation committee member for the ON STAGE Performing Arts Competitions and is regularly in demand locally as a performer and educator across a wide range of styles. Marcus is committed to sharing his skills and love for the performing arts with students and audiences of all ages and walks of life, through performance, creation and education.
STEVE RICHTER [PERCUSSION] is a freelance musician who has been highly active in the Western Australian arts scene for 25 years. He has diverse performance and composition experience and plays regularly as a multi instrumentalist (percussion, electronics, vibraphone, drums, keyboards and latin percussion) having performed in the vicinity of 3,500 gigs in multiple countries; encompassing world music, pop, orchestral, rock and his own compositions and improvisations. With a love of sharing music in live situations he is recognised for his polished, energetic performances and has toured throughout Australia and abroad with various outfits including Perth Symphony, Synergy, Christine Anu, Yothu Yindi, Greg Sheehan and the WA Symphony. Along with his colleagues from Tetrafide percussion, he was a former artist in residence at the WAPA and has recorded on numerous albums and music projects. Steve runs his own production studio in Fremantle and has composed for several short films and TV 'Factory 293', 'Trigger', SBS’s 'Family Rules' and continues to work with writer Stephen Scourfield producing 'Round the World Dinner' collaborative experiences involving stories, music and food. As an educator, Steve has devised and delivered workshops for many institutions and events including RhythmSong, the Royal College of Music (London) and Artsedge and currently teaches hundreds of students for the Department of Education, WAPAA and UWA Conservatorium of Music.
RAQUEL AVELLAN [VOCALS] is a native of Barcelona. She studied Musical Theatre Arts at Coco Comín Dancing and Performing Arts Theatre in Barcelona majoring with a PhD in dance. Her studies included flamenco dance, music and singing. Raquel has performed in numerous musicals across Spain: 'The Pirates of Penzance', 'Women's Transporting' & 'Pharaoh's Court'. She has worked in film and advertising as an actress and singer. Raquel has also been engaged as a singer in studios, recording songs for movies, DJ’s and Producers. Raquel was Lead Singer for Borinots TQT for several years, performing across Spain and Italy and Lead Singer of Morena Tradipatxanga, a comic covers band performing across Spain.
VALERIA GONZALEZ [DANCE] is the first child born after her parents migrated to Australia from Argentina. Raised speaking and writing in both Spanish and English, Valeria found her passion through her bloodline with music and dance being prominent. Valeria has been dancing and performing flamenco since the young age of 6 and has performed with local Flamenco performance groups and international touring guest artists. Val is a Principal Dancer with AIRE FLAMENCO since the ensembles inception.
MAREE LAFFAN [DANCE] trained in ballet and contemporary dance from age 5. She studied and performed in Sydney, New York and London. On relocating to Perth in 1995 she studied Spanish Dance under Maestra Deanna Blacher (OAM) and has performed with local Flamenco performance groups in addition to shows with international touring guest artists. Maree travels regularly to Spain to study and attend workshops. Her other creative life is photography where she has been engaged to document performances at several tablaos in Sevilla. Her photos are presented during selective AIRE FLAMENCO shows. Maree founded the AIRE FLAMENCO ensemble with the aim to share the richness, beauty, passion and art that is Flamenco.