MUSICIANS

Daniel Puckey is a highly respected Musical Director with over 15 years of experience on some of the world’s most successful productions, including Hamilton, The Lion King, The Book of Mormon, Kinky Boots, We Will Rock You, Muriel’s Wedding, The Bodyguard, Wizard of Oz, ELVIS: A Musical Revolution, King Kong, Cruel Intentions, and The Wedding Singer. Known for his ability to inspire collaboration between cast, creatives, and musicians, Daniel’s work spans domestic and international stages. As an educator, he has taught at prestigious institutions like The VCA, Brent Street, and Ministry of Dance, sharing his expertise with emerging talent. He is excited to continue his creative journey with Opera Australia and JONES Theatrical Group, bringing his passion for musical theatre to new audiences.

Dominic Cabusi began his love for music as a vocalist, rhythm guitarist and songwriter. At twelve years old he formed his first band Ethix, in which he wrote and toured his first EP; ‘Pages From Her Diary.’ From the age of fifteen Dom was already touring with his second Alt-Pop Rock band Bleached Academy; sharing line ups with bands such as Dead Letter Circus, winning Youth Rock 2008 and featuring on the YOUTHROCK 09 Poster. The group recorded their debut EP with Producer Phil McKellar (Silverchair, The Getaway Plan, Kisschasy). By seventeen he was working as a session guitarist for Sony Music Australia; touring with Hayley Warner, appearing on Channel 7’s Sunrise and playing shows such as Australia Day Live at Parliament House to a crowd of over 30,000.

Fresh out of highschool, Dom’s band Sound of Seasons featuring Northlane’s Marcus Bridge was selling out shows at ‘The Lair,’ featuring on Toasted TV (Channel 10) and supporting acts like Mariana’s Trench at The Metro. Sporting 2 EP’s and several National tours, the band worked under Harbour Agency and Artery Global, sharing line ups with These Kid’s Wear Crowns, Tonight Alive, Closure in Moscow and Hands Like Houses.

In 2015, Dom graduated with a Bachelor of Music in Contemporary Performance at The Australian Institute of Music where he was heavily featured in promotional material for several years. During the degree he added bass guitar, double bass and arrangement to his musical skillsets. This was a time of major growth for him as he studied and played a diverse new range of genres such as Soul, Rnb, Funk, Jazz, Fusion and Music Theatre.

After finishing his studies, Dom quickly established himself as one of Sydney’s in demand session bassists, working with Artists like Paloma Faith, Aston Merrigold and Nico & Vins on TV shows such as X factor, Sunrise (Channel 7) and The Morning Show (Channel _7). In 2017 Dom curated the ‘Progressive Soul Collection’ for BOSS; a selection of bass patches featured in his own original composition and video for the GT-1B product launch. He also featured as double bass / electric bass for Musicals such as ‘Grease,’ ‘In The Heights,’ ‘Triassic Park’ and ‘Three In The Bed.’ During this time he also worked as a Guest Entertainer for P&O Cruise-lines, featuring on board as a Vocalist, guitarist and bassist.

In 2016, Dominic honed in on his multi-instrumentalist, arranger and songwriter skills to begin working as a producer. Since then he’s worked on several EP’s, albums and singles with artists across Pop, Country, Rnb, Folk, Rock and Electronic sub-genres. In conjunction with freelance production, Dom produces and composes under songwriting and composition duo Maari Music; a project that specialises in composing music for the screen. Alongside Podcast Introductions, Radio show Introductions, Music for Web Series’, the duo have been additional composers on TV shows featured on SBS and also composed songs and score on multiple shorts films, and four Feature Films. Two of those feature films; ’The Legend of The Five’ and ‘The Red Shoes: Next Step have screened in Australian Cinemas (Event Cinemas, Village Cinemas, Showbiz and more), international cinemas and have TV appearances (chanel 9, ABC Kids) and the remaining two are currently in post production. Dominic Cabusi was also nominated for an APRA AMCOS Screen Music Award in 2023 in the category ‘best song written for screen’ for the song ‘Glow’ which featured in ‘The Red Shoes: Next Step’. The Team have also worked with EMI Music Publishing /Sony ATV Publishing for a production music album titled ‘Earth Songs’, which has places multiple syncs on international TV networks and shows; (BBC, Telemundo, UK TV).

Dominic has just recently wrapped up his role as the touring bass player with the Australian Premiere of ‘Tina: The Tina Turner Musical (2023-2024)’, which saw him performing at the 2023 NRL Grand Final and travelling across Sydney, Perth, Adelaide and Brisbane in an off and on stage role which spanned over 14 months. Upon his return from Tina: The Tina Turner Musical in September 2024, Dominic wasted no time and was called to be the deputy bass player in the 2024 – 2025 production of award winning musical ‘Hamilton’.

Outside of the theatre, Dom spends his time, composing music for Film & TV under Maari Music in his studio in Rydlemere, whilst spending weekends playing gigs around Sydney and beyond, and occasionally teaching songwriting and performance workshops for ‘The Australian Institute of Music’ under the short course program.

“Greening’s trombone has the delicious plumpness of a ripe mango. The Sad bits and the funny bits become jumbled, and there can be no higher praise.” – John Shand The Sydney Morning Herald.

James Greening has been a leading voice in the music scene in Sydney and Australia for forty years. Trombone is principal instrument and pocket trumpet, slide trumpet, tuba, sousaphone, diddly bow bass and percussion (including tuned percussion) add to James’ diversity as a performer. His roots are in any music that grooves, expressed more often in jazz as a founding member of seminal Australian jazz bands such as Ten Part Invention, Wanderlust, the catholics, the Umbrellas and the Australian Art Orchestra. In addition, he performs regularly with Monica Trapaga, Nick Garbett’s Garfish, Dan Barnett’s Big Band, the Crawfish Po Boys and Mara’s Big Band, Dr Dan & the Gri Gri Combo, Clayton Doley’s Bayou Billabong, Mary Heart and many New Orleans roaming gigs. In more intimate settings, he plays duo/trio with Gary Daley and Lloyd Swanton and free improvisations with Daryl Pratt.

The World According to James, formed in 1992, saw James step forward as a bandleader and composer, presenting music with all the qualities of wit, creativity and exuberance that have long been associated with his work as a soloist. Three critically acclaimed CDs of original compositions include No Job Too Small, Wayback (ARIA nominated) and their third CD, Lingua Franca, winning the AIR (Australian Independent Records Labels) award for Jazz album of the year in 2010. In 2012, James Greening launched a new 7 piece project, Greening from Ear to Ear and composed a new suite of original music, Tam O’Shanter Tales.  This CD received rave reviews.

A significant part of his career has been playing funk, and one of James Greening‘s major musical influences was friend and mentor, the late Jackie Orszaczky. James Greening performed in a number of Jackie’s ground breaking bands such as Jump Back Jack, Industrial Accident, The Godmothers, The Orszaczky Budget Orchestra and Hungarian Rapsadists.

In young family circles James is most recognized as performing guest spots on ABC’s Play School and with Lah-Lah’s Big Live Band. James has led his quartet, The World According to James, for the Musica Viva in Schools Program for 20 years, showcasing in an innovative and engaging way the fundamentals of all music and introducing students to the world of composition and improvisation more specific to Jazz through live interactive performances.

Australian artists James has performed, toured and recorded with include the late Bernie McGann, Mike Nock, Katie Noonan, Ben Walsh, Philip Johnston, Josh Pyke with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, the late Richard Gill OAM and the Australian Romantic and Classical Orchestra, Renee Geyer, Tina Harrod, Sandy Evans ,Jonathon Zwartz, Stu Hunter, Gai Bryant, Jess Green, Lily Dior, Monica Trapaga, Jade McRae, Virna Sanzone, Paul Grabowsky, Emma Donavon, Mary Rapp, Carl Dewhurst, Dan Barnett, Emma Pask, Darren Percival, , Stewart D’Arietta, Andrew Robson, Judy Bailey, Chris Cody, Joseph Tawadros, Clayton Doley, Lachlan Doley, Sean Wayland, Ray Beadle, The Sirens Big Band, Garfish, The Strides, The Vampires, Jeremy Roses’ Iron in the Blood, Josh Kyle’s Trombone Cycle, Australian National Jazz Orchestra, Indy Rock musicians Louis Tillet and ED Kuepper.

International artists he has played with include Teramasa Hino, Mark Elias, Tony Malaby, Maria Schneider, the Mingus Big Band, Joe Fiedler, Martha Wainwright, Lou Reed, Brian Wilson, Josh Roseman and Bennie Maupin. James has toured around the world to perform at International Jazz Festivals such as Berlin, Montreux, North Sea, Umbria, Ascona, Pori, Malmö,Tokyo, Hakuba, Beijing, Shanghai, Taipei, Delhi, Washington jazz festival and Kennedy Centre, Montreal, Onterio, Calgary, Winnipeg, Quebec. As well as festivals James has performed in Jazz clubs all over Europe, USA, Canada, Asia, Oceania and India. In 2017, James performed in Stu Hunter’s Migration project at Jazzahead, Bremen. James’ performed in Havana, Cuba with Dan Barnett’s Big Band in 2019 and Monica Trapaga’s Band The Guardians in 2020.

Significant shows James has performed in are Sandy Evans’ and The Australian Art Orchestra’s Testimony and with the late Ruby Hunter and Archie Roach with the Australian Art Orchestra, Ruby. James appeared in the documentary Wash my soul in the River’s Flow released in  2021 and directed by Philippa Bateman. James has toured Australia regularly with the White Album and Let It Be shows, leading the horn section and horn arrangements. Other television work he has done is a Panadol advertisement, which had a worldwide release and playing sousaphone in an American Marching band for Celeste Barber’s Wellmania. In February 2021, James Greening was Artist in Residence for ABC Jazz radio.

James Greening distinctive sound has appeared on the recording and performances of leading musicians including Katie Noonan, Renee Geyer, Tina Harrod, Sandy Evans, Jonathon Zwartz, Stu Hunter, Lily Dior, Monica Trapaga, Darren Percival, Paul Grabowsky, Emma Pask, Andrew Robson, Judy Bailey, Joseph Tawadros, Clayton Doley, Lachlan Doley and independent singer song writers and country artists including Slim Dusty, Fanny Lumsden, Shane Nicholson, Jenny Mitchel and Graeme Connors  and pop groups including Passenger. 

Kieran Ledwidge is a Sydney-born classically trained multi-instrumentalist, arranger, producer, composer and recording artist. A Davis Scholar graduate of Princeton University (Class of 2008), Kieran received his Bachelor of Arts majoring in International Relations Theory along with Princeton’s highest qualification in instrumental performance: a Certificate in Musical Performance (Violin), serving also as concertmaster of the Princeton University Orchestra. Following his graduation, Kieran moved to New York City and performed extensively throughout North America and Europe garnering wide praise for his exhilarating and dynamic performances blending modern classical techniques with non-classical traditions initially with his orchestral indie rock band, Miracles of Modern Science (with which he is a co-writer on three critically acclaimed albums), but soon branching out to include recording and touring with a variety of artists spanning a multitude of genres.

The COVID-19 pandemic forced a decision Kieran had been keen to make for a long time, moving back to his hometown of Sydney in April of 2020. Since his return, he has continued to arrange and record strings and soundtracks for artists domestically and internationally. His primary role since July 2020 has been as director of strings, string arranger, and touring solo violinist for Delta Goodrem AM, with whom he has performed national and international broadcasts, in arenas, concert halls, and at festivals across Australia, the US, the EU, and the UK.

Most recently, Kieran has completed a tour as the sole featured musical guest of renowned UK musician and comedian Bill Bailey, improvising violin accompaniment on original songs spanning tango, bluegrass, and irish folk for the NSW and ACT leg of Bailey’s Thoughtifier world tour.

Having heard nothing but praise from colleagues who have performed this multiple Tony award-winning show on Broadway, Kieran is thrilled to be working with Opera Australia to help you all aboard the train way down… to Hadestown.

Born in Sydney Australia, Glenn Wilson has been playing drums since the age of thirteen. After leaving school, Glenn continued his studies with local professionals and started to integrate into the Sydney session scene.

He has toured and recorded with many different bands and artists across various music genres including The Seekers, Passenger, Wendy Mathews, Lee Kernaghan, Adam Harvey, Gina Gefferies, Andrew Farriss

James Blundell, Glenn Shorrock, Troy Cassar-Daley, Ross Wilson, Beccy Cole, Kevin Bennett.

In 2004 Glenn ventured into the musical scene and has become the principle drummer for standout musicals including & Juliet, Wicked, Evita, West Side Story, Saturday Night Fever, Guys & Dolls, Billy Elliot and Aladdin.

Glenn has a home studio and records remote drum tracks for producers and artists in Australia and overseas.

Clare is a graduate of the Canberra School of Music, receiving a Bachelor of Music degree with first class honours, and the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, where she completed a Master of Music (performance) degree. Throughout her study she was supported by the Ruth Pfanner Scholarship for Cello and a University of Sydney Postgraduate Award. As a professional cellist Clare has worked as a freelance performer with the Opera Australia Orchestra, Canberra Symphony Orchestra and the Sydney Philharmonia Orchestra, as well as playing as a session musician for the recording of many film and television soundtracks. However, having had a lifelong love for music theatre, this has been the significant focus of Clare’s professional career, and she has been thrilled to hold the cello chairs for the Sydney seasons of shows including Hamilton, Beauty and the Beast, Moulin Rouge!, Muriel’s Wedding the Musical, Matilda, The Lion King, Aladdin, and Kinky Boots, and to have played for the Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour seasons of Phantom of the Opera, and West Side Story.

Seb Bartels is a musician based in Sydney, Australia. He played mandolin, Irish bouzouki and acoustic guitar for both Sydney seasons as well as the subsequent 2023 Australian Tour of Come From Away. He also played acoustic and electric guitars for the 50th Anniversary Australian Tour of Hair, as well as the 2024 seasons of Tell Me on a Sunday, Watershed: The Death of Dr Duncan and Well-Behaved Women. As a session musician, he has worked with many artists including Guy Sebastian, Ilan Kidron (The Potbelleez), Apo Hiking Society (Philippines), Reuben Styles (Peking Duk/Y.O.G.A) and Shogun (Royal Headache).