Planning an event can be quite stressful, especially if you have no idea what type of entertainment you wish to put on. If you are planning a celebration that would benefit ...
Zakary Williams
Drummer
(no reviews)
Country: New Zealand
Based In: Christchurch, Canterbury
Performs: Worldwide
From: $250
Based In: Christchurch, Canterbury
Performs: Worldwide
From: $250
Zakary is a drummer and percussionist with a background in musical theatre, jazz, and pop and rock covers. Zakary has a Bachelor of Music Arts and majored in jazz performance and has over 10 years experience in musical theatre, jazz and covers bands.
Description
Zakary is a drummer and percussionist who is well rehearsed in a variety of musical styles, particularly musical theatre and jazz improvisation. Zakary is proficient in:
Rock, pop, jazz and showtune musical styles for drum kit
Sight reading sheet music for drums
Playing with in ear click tracks
Pop and rock covers
Jazz repertoire and improvisation
In addition to drum kit, Zak also plays:
Cajon
Timbales
Bongos
Congas
Riq
Glockenspiel
Auxiliary percussion
Biography
Zakary Williams is a New Zealand based drummer and percussionist who has completed studying jazz drum set at the Ara Institute. He has over a decade of experience working in musical theatre pits, jazz combos, covers bands and music education.
Zak is very passionate about musical theatre and professional stage shows. Zak’s most recent credits are with the Court Theatre in Christchurch on their summer production of Strictly Ballroom, the New Zealand premiere of Fun Home and the Australasian premiere of Something Rotten! as well as Showbiz Christchurch's productions of Mamma Mia! and Kinky
... Boots. Zak started performing in musical theatre with a production of Shakespeare’s As You like It which featured former members of Pop Up Globe, as well as local community theatre groups. Zak has also worked with NASDA at Ara Institute on their musicals with the esteemed West End musical director Mark W Dorrell on productions of Chicago, Grease, and Company to name a few.
Zak first began drumming at the age of 15, and after teaching himself basic skills, went on to attend professional lessons for the rest of high school. After high school, Zak decided to continue his music studies at a tertiary level and entered the Ara Institute Bachelor of Musical Arts degree, majoring in pop drumming, however during his first year he was exposed to the world of jazz music and decided to switch to the jazz stream. Zak has now graduated from Ara, having spent his final year honing his musical skills with a series of self directed recitals. In July of 2018 Zak travelled to Europe to participate in the Conservatorium van Amsterdam Summer Jazz Workshop, a week long jazz performance intensive that requires an audition and draws participants from all around the world. On this course Zak studied with the great jazz drummer John Reilly and played with jazz musicians from all over the world. In 2019 Zak took part in the Wellington Jazz Festival as a member of the Brad Kang Standards Trio, also featuring the now New York based bassist Hamish Smith. Zak also participated in the Nelson Jazz Festival with the great Christchurch piano/organist Tom Rainey. Zak continues to regularly perform in local jazz and covers bands.
Zak is looking forward to a long career in the music industry, and intends to perform in shows and productions as much as possible. He looks forward to expanding his repertoire and continuing to perform outside of his hometown.
Experience
Education/Qualifications:
Bachelor of Musical Arts (jazz drumset performance) – Ara Institute of Canterbury (formerly CPIT)
Summer Jazz Workshop - Conservatorium van Amsterdam
Theatre Credits:
Strictly Ballroom - Court Theatre, Christchurch, NZ (2024)
Mamma Mia! - Showbiz Christchurch, Christchurch, NZ (2024)
Freaky Friday - NASDA, Christchurch, NZ (2024)
Fun Home - Court Theatre, Christchurch, NZ (2024)
Kinky Boots - Showbiz Christchurch, Christchurch, NZ (2024)
Something Rotten - Court Theatre, Christchurch, NZ (2023)
Godspell - NASDA, Christchurch, NZ (2023)
Me a
... nd My Girl - NASDA, Christchurch, NZ (2023)
Company - NASDA, Christchurch, NZ (2023)
Curtains - MUSOC, Christchurch, NZ (2023)
Grease - NASDA, Christchurch, NZ (2022)
Chicago - NASDA, Christchurch, NZ (2022)
Glory Days - NASDA, Christchurch, NZ (2022)
Disco Inferno - Halswell Drama Club, Christchurch, NZ (2022)
Annie - North Canterbury Musical Society, Rangiora, NZ (2022)
West Side Story - Kirwee Players Inc, Kirwee, NZ (2021)
As You Like It - Third Bear Productions, Christchurch, NZ (Jan 2021)
Other Performance Experience:
Jinx NZ party band - Substitute drummer (2023 - present)
Zak Williams Jazz Group – Band leader/manager/drums (2016 – present)
Tom Rainy Quartet - Drums (2019)
Brad Kang Standards Trio - Drums (2019/2020)
Little Big Trio - Drums (2018 - Present)
Ara Latin Band – Percussionist (2014 – 2016)
Ara Big Band – Drums (2015)
Previous Clients
The Court Theatre
Christchurch, New Zealand
Showbiz Christchurch
Christchurch, New Zealand
National Academy of SInging and Dramatic Arts
Christchurch, New Zealand
Suitable for
Wedding Reception Entertainment Birthday Party Entertainment Private Parties Corporate Events Cocktail Receptions Christening Entertainment Product Launches Trade Shows Christmas Party Events Bar Mitzvah Bat Mitzvah Gala Dinners Jewish Weddings After Dinner Entertainment.
Additional Information
Zak has New Zealand and British passports and is entitled to work and travel freely in New Zealand, Australia and the United Kingdom
Click here to view all of our Drummers on Entertainers Worldwide
Browse all Entertainment Hire options!
Browse all Entertainment Hire options!
Related Blog posts...
If you are planning an event that involves a sit down dinner, it might be a nice idea to provide some live background music to add to the ambiance of your event and help as ...
Your wedding ceremony is going to be one of the major parts of your wedding day that you will remember for the rest of your life, but you will be surprised how much this important ...
When putting on an event, hiring an instrumentalist to play atmospheric background music can really make difference to the whole feel of your occasion. Instrumentalists ...
One of the central elements of any Wedding is music. From the choice of music for the entrance of the bride, through to the first dance and right up until the very last song. ...
Our Latest Members!
Emma Sara Events
Female Singer
Female Singer
Joined: August 8th
From: Ayr, Scotland
From: Ayr, Scotland
Tom Barnett
Close-up Magician
Close-up Magician
Joined: August 8th
From: Brent Park, London
From: Brent Park, London
Maria Toth
Cellist
Cellist
Joined: August 8th
From: Budapest, Hungary
From: Budapest, Hungary
Refilwe
Nightclub DJ
Nightclub DJ
Joined: August 8th
From: Johannesburg, Gauteng
From: Johannesburg, Gauteng
SYNC'N'SING (Devine Tension & Madame Jo Mama)
Drag Queen Act
Drag Queen Act
Joined: August 8th
From: Dumfries, Scotland
From: Dumfries, Scotland
Gemma On Sax
Saxophonist
Saxophonist
Joined: August 7th
From: Hornchurch, London
From: Hornchurch, London
DJ Billy B
Nightclub DJ
Nightclub DJ
Joined: August 7th
From: Malmo, Sweden
From: Malmo, Sweden
Mosé
Male Singer
Male Singer
Joined: August 7th
From: Oaklands, Gauteng
From: Oaklands, Gauteng
Sassy Stryker
Drag Queen Act
Drag Queen Act
Joined: August 7th
From: Islington, London
From: Islington, London
MATT WALSH
Michael Jackson Tribute Act
Michael Jackson Tribute Act
Joined: August 7th
From: Orlando, Florida
From: Orlando, Florida