ZAC SKELTON

Zac Skelton is an in-demand, up and coming percussionist with a love for all things groovy and a desire to share music with others. This Perth-based percussionist has been playing with ensembles for 12 years and working on his solo rep for the last eight years. By starting his career so early in ensembles, Zac gained a good understanding of ensemble skills, a sense of community, and his purpose: sharing his love of music. Zac has been a member of the Western Australian Youth Orchestra for six years and is currently Principal Percussionist. He was invited to the 2023 Australian Youth Orchestra’s National Music Camp and was Principal Timpanist for the Alexander Orchestra. Zac started his career in community ensembles, playing with Armadale City Concert Band, being part of winning first place at the Western Australian Band Association State Championship B Grade two years in a row, and getting the opportunity to travel to Tasmania for the 2017 Australian National Band Championships. Zac is now Armadale City Concert Band’s Musical Director and is excited to be taking on this new role.

After completing secondary education at Kelmscott Senior High School in the specialist music program and winning the top music student prize, Zac now studies at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA). During his time at WAAPA, Zac has learned to master his ensemble and technical skills and has been a member of Defying Gravity percussion ensemble. He, alongside his WAAPA colleagues, has formed many ensembles included Reverie Percussion (2021 Marimbafest Ensemble Competition Runner-Up), Continuum Duo (2022 Marimbafest Ensemble Competition Runner-Up), Sunny Side Up (2023 Marimbafest Ensemble Competition Runner-Up) and The Centric Lecturers (2023 ROSL Chamber Ensemble Competition Finalist). In 2022, Zac attended the Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC) with his WAAPA colleagues, where he learnt so much from masterclasses and enjoyed incredible performances daily.  Zac was also the recipient of the 2023 Norman Archibald Percussion Scholarship.

Zac always had an interest in conducting. He began his conducting career with helping his high school senior band and Classic Sounds Orchestra, offering to conduct a rehearsal or two when their regular musical director wasn’t available. He received various conducting lessons from Classic Sounds Orchestra musical director Rachel John and Darling Range Wind Ensemble musical director James Martin before arranging to be Armadale City Concert Band’s (ACCB) assistant conductor, under the tutelage of Dale Pointon. With Dale and the ACCB, Zac learnt valuable conducting and ensemble skills, and when Dale announced his resignation, the ACCB asked Zac to continue as the band’s Acting Musical Director. By the end of 2023, the ACCB offered Zac the position of Musical Director for 2024, which he gladly accepted.

During his career, Zac has gained a love for musical theatre. He has played in many community theatre musical productions and has started making his way into more professional productions, such as WAAPA’s 2023 production of Footloose. Zac is also set to Musical Direct a community musical in September 2024. Beyond his playing ability, Zac has acted in a variety of community theatre productions and has recently started his composition journey with an arrangement featured in the 2023 Defying Gravity concert Hit Parade and some compositions for solo percussion and small percussion ensemble. Through and through, Zac is a performing arts lover and has dedicated his life to sharing this love.