Junkestra is an East London based musicians and workshop leaders collective which provides music workshops for primary and secondary schools, community centres, festivals and other public bodies. The collective's founder, composer and improviser Simon Katan, has worked extensively in music education since completing his undergraduate degree at the Welsh College of Music and Drama in 2001 and has a wealth of experience in running music workshops covering everything from KS2 guitar orchestras and rock band coaching with KS3 children, to contemporary composition techniques for adult learners. He is currently an apprentice animateur for the Spitalfields Festival and has also run workshops for the Southbank Centre, Crisis Skylight, Cardboard Citizens and in schools and community centres throughout Tower Hamlets.
Simon completed his Masters in composition at Goldsmiths University in 2005, passing with distinction and is currently a SPNM shortlisted composer. He is also the founder, band-leader, and composer for Halal Kebab Hut, an experimental ensemble of twelve improvisers, who have performed at festivals such as Sonorities in Belfast 2006 and Sonic Expo 2007and 2008.
Following a successful year of pilot projects in Tower Hamlets schools, Junkestra offer a variety of structured courses focusing on composition and music technology with schemes ranging from 1 - 3 days in length. Click here for more info. All personnel associated with Junkestra have current CRB and public liabilities insurance. A full CV, detailed workshop outlines and references are available upon request.
