Who Are We?
Canadian-born and globally bred, Scrap Arts Music has performed in sixteen countries over five continents for audiences of all backgrounds. We offer innovative percussion-based performances and outreach activities with wide-ranging appeal.
Our humble beginnings date to 1998, when we were in Vancouver, short of cash but brimming with ideas.
In three short years, we managed to create over a hundred shiny, hand-built sculptural instruments from condo and harbour scrap (do we have stories!).
We also found athletic multi-instrumentalists to work with, composed music for a 90-minute programme, headed to the Banff Centre for the Arts for an incredibly creative 3-month long residency in the Canadian Rockies... and in 2001, launched a deeply rewarding international career!
Nine years later we were performing in the Closing Ceremonies of the 2010 Winter Olympics, in front of 70,000 people live and beamed to millions around the world... Now we are promoting our own movie and sound track: Children of Metropolis. Check us out!
Director Bios
Gregory Kozak
Founder, Instrument Maker, Composer, Educator, Performer
Gregory composes music for quintet, orchestra and film, creates musical instruments from industrial scrap, and choreographs movement.
Gregory is both an ensemble musician and a concert soloist. He directs a world-class five-member touring ensemble, Scrap Arts Music, that exclusively plays his 145+ invented instruments and his original repertoire at leading international festivals and theatres around the world.
A visionary musician schooled in jazz and world music traditions, Gregory draws inspiration from avant-garde composers of the 20th and 21st centuries. He learned the art of metal fabrication in order to create instruments that could give expression to his unique musical voice.
When not performing, Gregory is boldly exploring compositional ideas on piano and drums, following world events, running around Mt. Tolmie, taking Arrow and Oblio on walks, and helping Justine in the garden.
Justine Murdy
Founder + Catalyst
Justine is involved in project conceptualization, instrument design, and all facets of art direction (costumes, lighting, stage craft). She's also involved in stage direction, music critique and future developments.
Justine has always had a love for the natural environment. At university and during work placements, a passion for Environmentally Sensitive Design and Material Culture Studies developed. She became fascinated with vernacular architecture — buildings and environments built by people lacking “formal” training, yet brilliantly employing materials and traditional processes of local know-how, culture and environment. She transferred this interest to Gregory's world.
Forward-thinking (with one foot in the present), Justine is an avid organic gardener and an advocate for ancient forests. When not on tour you can find her tending habitats for the creatures she shares her perch with on Mt Tolmie, swimming in the Salish Sea, and strategizing world domination for Scrap Arts Music!
THE ENSEMBLE
L to R: Malcolm Shoolbraid, Gregory Kozak, Chris Blaber, Alex Campbell, Jade Hails.
Since 1998, our work has been enriched by collaborations with a diverse roster of outstanding percussionists. Discover more about our current members by clicking the image above.
THE INSTRUMENTS
Click on the image to see more instruments.