About Us
Simone Lang - Director
Founder and Director of Drummergirl, Simone is a devoted and passionate performer,
teacher and exponent of traditional West African drumming and percussion. Simone completed
a Bachelor of Environmental Science/Bachelor Arts and worked as an Environmental Scientist
for several years before following her long-standing passion for West
African drumming.
Simone began her study of drumming over ten years ago and has studied under some of
Australia and West Africa’s finest master drummers. In 2000 Simone journeyed to Guinea
as a student of Mohamed Bangoura to undertake intensive training with Lamine ‘Lopez’
Soumah of Percussion de Guinee. Three of Simone’s travelling companions were her
fellow 'beatwise' band members and soon after their return to Australia they recorded
their self-titled album in collaboration with Mohamed Bangoura. In early 2007, Simone
travelled to the Casamance region of Senegal in West Africa to study
the art of ‘solo’ djembe intensively at Alnaniking! with Alagie Malo Sonko.
Simone is a Creative Director of Afö (www.myspace.com/afodrumming), a four piece traditional West African drumming ensemble.
In addition to beatwise, Simone has performed with various
successful Melbourne-based ensembles including Bomba, Coco’s Lunch, Melatonin, Frankenbok,
Blue Turban Percussion and Carińo Son.
Federico Martinengo
Federico is a passionate Melbourne-based traditional West African percussionist
who has been playing percussion for the past six years. In this time Federico has made two
study trips to West Africa where he has studied and trained with highly regarded master
drummers in Guinea, The Gambia and Senegal.
Federico is a member of Asiko led by Lamine Sonko from Senegal and is a creative director
and founding member of Afö. Federico currently teaches and performs at various venues
throughout Australia and overseas. Fed is also Creative Director of Afö and is founder/Director of The Drum Life.
(www.thedrumlife.com.au)
Jacqueline Gawler
Jacqueline is a trained dun-dun player, and is well-known for her work as a Jazz and
A Capella singer/composer. Jacqueline has travelled to The Gambia and Senegal in West
Africa to study intensively under master drummer Alagie Malo Sonko.
Jacqueline is a singer/percussionist/composer with internationally award-winning vocal/percussion group
Coco’s Lunch with whom she has composed and recorded five acclaimed albums. She has toured
around the world for the past 12 years with Coco’s Lunch
(www.cocoslunch.com) and currently performs as a freelance Jazz vocalist with
ensembles including Stoneflower
(www.myspace/stoneflowertrio)
and The Jacqueline Gawler Band
(www.myspace.com/jacquelinegawler).