John O'Hagan: C.V.

Curriculum vitae

for John O'Hagan

I have over twenty-five years of experience in the arts, including seven years as Musical Director of Circus Oz, one of Australia’s foremost major performing arts groups, where I was responsible for the artistic, management and technical aspects of the musical component of Circus Oz productions. I am a composer and multi-instrumentalist, specialising in Double Bass, with a V.C.A. degree. I have played live in more than twenty countries to around one million people.

I also have long and diverse experience as a freelance musician and performer, teacher, technician, graphic artist, show crew member, and more; and many other interests including social justice issues, science, and ICT (look around this site!).

I am looking for opportunities to bring these skills and this experience to a creative, management, technical, educational or administrative context in the arts.

Feb 2008-present:

I took long service leave from Circus Oz and began working on diverse projects, including writing computer programs to create music, learning Spanish, setting up a rehearsal and music workshop studio, and musical projects including:

Creating and performing works with Phunktional Dance Company.
Creating and performing works with dancer Tony Yap.
Performances and recordings with composer/guitarist Mark Finsterer.
Violinist/singer Jenny M. Thomas's modern treatments of Australian folk songs.
Improvised collaborations and recordings with bass clarinettist ChristopherYoung, particularly with the group Oskar and Bebra.
Performances of my stochastic music-generating computer program, Phraser.
With singer Leili Mander, performing early jazz vocal music.
Django Reinhardt's music, with the group Bois et Charbon.
With Karen Kyriakou's Kazband.
With klezmer/gypsy collective Tzigas.
With world act Reflejos.
The music of John Coltrane et al with Tim Pledger and Chris Lewis.
Cabaret performances with Dave Evans and the late Josephine Fisher.
Giving private lessons in double bass, guitar and music theory.
Professional musical engagements.
Audio and lighting installation, rigging assist for Showtech Australia, Circus Oz.

1998-2008:

Performing and global touring full-time in Circus Oz, as Musical Director from 2001, including a famous comic aerial act, the "Flying Bass". (Here are some of the places we've been.) I served on the Circus Oz Board of Directors, as union delegate, and in cultural development projects, including with remote indigenous communities and urban Mexican youth. Highlights included a commission to write and perform two pieces for global broadcast on NYE 2000 at the Sydney Opera House, and three 6-8 week seasons on 42nd St, New York.

1995-97:

Undertook and completed a degree in music (performance and improvisation) at the Victorian College of the Arts.

1986-95:

Freelanced and played in bands including:

Bohjass: an everchanging art-rock/jazz ensemble.
Running Joak: grotesque parodists.
Rococo Pops: just like a reception band, only crunchy.
Colonial V-Knees: country-punk request karaoke.
The Maelstrom: impassioned proto-soul.
Barcode: my first original band; two horns, bass and two percussionists.
Buckley's 44: street band inventing on invented instruments.
Hot Cafe: Django's music.
Musiikki Oy: freewheeling jazz expressionism.
Ju-Ju: sitar-led Indian fusion.
Billy London Orchestra: original songs from the charismatic Graham Barker.
Trio Grand: acoustic guitar, bass and drums in a delicate balance.
Bucketrider: extreme art/rock/jazz.
Hop Jump Big Band: experimentation on a large scale.
Mantramancy: bass clarinet, double bass, harmonic singing and didgeridu.
Bloom: silky trip-hop.
Blame the Acrobats: the Flying Fruit Fly Circus band.

Other experience:

Graphic design and publications production as Publications Officer for the Youth Affairs Council of Australia.
Studied philosophy and physics at Melbourne University. Editor of the student newspaper, Farrago.
Providing direct care in Intellectual Disability Services with Noraccom.
Studied saxophone and guitar.