perseverance Tim Sellars –
beating the drum for Cirque du Soleil
A former College drummer who now calls Las Vegas home has upped his career tempo after winning a coveted spot with Cirque du Soleil. Tim Sellars, is centre stage in the band for the visually and musically dazzling water-themed show O at the Bellagio. For Tim, performing with Cirque du Soleil is the culmination of an aspirational journey. “That was one of my biggest goals, being part of Cirque du Soleil. It was always a dream gig that I finally achieved in September 2021,” he says. A member of Julius House from 2002–2006 and Head of House in his final year, Tim really developed his passion for the drums in Year 9 at College. “I was always interested at a young age in playing the drums but it was not until Year 9 that I actually
started taking drums at College,” Tim says. “Greg Donaldson, who is still teaching drums at College, helped start my journey. “I really got into drumming and formed a band at school. We performed well-known songs and that was the start of making music with people. Really, that triggered everything that I am doing now. By Year 12, I knew I wanted to go to jazz school.” Looking back, Tim acknowledges the commitment of Director of Music Robert Aburn and former Head of Instrumental Music Nick Coxon in “shaping me”. “They could see what I was trying to do and supported me. I spent a lot of time in the Music School basement, where I could practice,” he recalls. Following school, Tim focused on his musical studies, along with performances.
“At that time, Ara and the University of Canterbury (UC) worked in tandem, so I gained a Bachelor of Music with First Class Honours, majoring in Jazz Performance.” At the same time, Tim was also covering a range of musical styles, playing in jazz venues and musical theatre productions for The Court Theatre and Showbiz Christchurch. “I then travelled the world for about two years, playing drums for bands on cruise ships, and met my wife, Jillian, who was working as a dancer on a cruise ship touring the Caribbean. I was playing in the jazz and ballroom trios, show bands, and party bands.” In 2015, Tim returned to university to gain his Diploma in Teaching and Learning (secondary) and then taught drums and percussion for three years at
62
CONNECTION
Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online