Ensemble Members
Chris Blaber
Multi-instrumental
Chris is dedicated to presenting collaborative, interdisciplinary, improvised, and contemporary works. He’s passionate about incorporating multiple elements of performance – including choreography, narration, singing, and acting – into unified, innovative productions.
Chris holds a Bachelors in Fine Arts with distinction in Music Composition from Simon Fraser University, and a diploma in percussion performance from Douglas College. Chris is a founder of Ecstatic Waves and a freelance percussionist in Vancouver.
Chris played bass drum in the Royal Canadian Sea Cadet marching band at age 12, and now plays anything classified as percussion. His favourite traditional instruments are marimba and vibraphone. An avid runner, Chris has competed in triathlons, biathlons (skiing & shooting), and soccer, and bicycles for transportation as much as possible.
Chris Blaber joined Scrap Arts Music in 2017.
Alex Campbell
Multi-instrumental
Alex studied at Toronto’s Humber College, immersing himself in jazz, fusion, and world music. Teachers include Bob McLaren, Mark Kelso, Murray Creed, Steve Mancuso, Pat Kilbride, Ron Thaler, and Andreas David. Alex is known for his musicality behind the kit. He’s worked in multiple genres and performed at Canadian Music Week, Rifflandia, Sunfest, Rockin’ River Music Fest, Boonstock, Big Time Out, and many others.
Alex was a rower in high school and has practiced yoga regularly, and hits the gym to row, swim, and do weight training. His arms get a decent workout from drumming 40 hours per week! Alex also performs with The County Line, and the jazz-pop group, Mildly Wild; off tour he teaches at music schools around Victoria and is a life coach.
Alex Campbell joined Scrap Arts Music in 2016.
Jade Hails
Multi-instrumental
American percussionist Jade Hails is a dynamic presence on and offstage. Combining theatrics and technical performance in a musical amalgamation, Hails has committed his career to bridging the gap between the arts. Offering his skill set to other artists in ways that utilize their work, curating collaborations based on poetry and literature as well as visual art and dance.
Jade teaches at Douglas College as well as various private lessons schools throughout Vancouver where he provides instruction for percussion technique, performance, and entrepreneurship for his students.
Jade Hails graduated from Southern Oregon University with his Masters in Music degree studying with Dr. Terry Longshore. He has a Bachelor of Arts in Music from Oregon State University and has studied with Bob Brudvig, Alan Keown, and Matthew Keown.
Jade Hails joined Scrap Arts Music in 2022.
Malcolm Shoolbraid
Multi-instrumental
Malcolm Shoolbraid was born in Vancouver, and moved to Salt Spring Island when he was six. He began to study the drums at age 16, which quickly become an obsession.
In addition to a rich musical career as drummer for Scrap Arts Music, Thigma and The Coalition, Malcolm has worked as a house-builder, logger and commercial fisherman. A member of Scrap Arts Music since 2000, Malcolm took sabbatical in 2008 to start a family and to establish a water-bottling enterprise. He rejoined the ensemble in 2011 and is dreaming about his next surf-camping adventure...