Bree van Reyk, Niki Johnson, Hayley Chan

Inspired by found objects, knick-knacks, and planks of wood, performer-composers Bree van Reyk, Niki Johnson, and Hayley Chan unite to present three original compositions. Building on their debut performance of van Reyk’s A Series of States at the Art Gallery of NSW, their appearance at Local Edition deepens their exploration of guided improvisation, sonic environments, and evocations of the natural world—revealing the vast textures and terrains that can emerge from a percussion ensemble.

Niki Johnson is a contemporary percussionist and composer-performer whose musical practice incorporates interdisciplinary collaboration and artistic research. She has been commissioned to compose and perform solo percussion works for the Sydney Powerhouse Museum and Art Gallery of New South Wales, and is a current PhD student at Monash University. As an interdisciplinary collaborator she works with sculptors, sound designers, musicians, fine artists, and performance artists to create instrumental sculptures and performances across the disciplines of music, installation and experimental theatre. As a freelancing percussionist she has recorded percussion for the ABC, Sydney Opera House, Phoenix Central Park, and Trackdown Fox studios.

Bree van Reyk plays drums and percussion, writes and produces music, creates performances and makes unkempt musical instruments using old bits of wood and guitar strings. She has toured and recorded extensively throughout Australia and around the globe with the likes of Paul Kelly, Gurrumul, Justine Clarke, the Australian Chamber Orchestra, Holly Throsby, Sarah Blasko, Lior, Katie Noonan, Darren Hanlon, and many other songwriters and ensembles. Bree is long-standing member of Ensemble Offspring and Synergy Percussion and has been commissioned by both groups.

Hayley Chan is a performer, improviser, and composer from Warrane/Sydney. Growing up as the only female drummer at her school in Western Sydney, Hayley was driven to explore gender equity in Sydney’s music scene through her studies at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, graduating with a Bachelor of Music (First Class Honours) in 2024. She has made her mark along Australia’s east coast, performing at the Sydney Opera House and at festivals including Bigsound, Kiama Jazz and Blues, and the Orange Winter Jazz Festival. As a 2024 Dots+Loops Performance Fellow, Hayley took part in a week-long residency at Brisbane Powerhouse, creating two compelling sets of music in collaboration with fellow artists and mentors Helen Svoboda, Lexi Gorton, and Frankie Dyson Reilly—culminating in a show-stopping performance at the 2024 Nonstop Festival.