Bas was at St Faith’s from 2003-2008. Upon leaving St Faith’s He went on to study at The Leys, Hills Road Sixth Form College and the Junior Guildhall School of Music.
“During my sixth form studies I was preparing myself to audition for Music Colleges around England and the US. Thankfully, I was accepted at my first choice, Berklee College of Music. Berklee has been responsible for educating such artists as John Mayer, Quincy Jones, Steve Vai, Vinnie Colaiuta to name such a select few. I am dual majoring in Performance and Music Production & Engineering, where I am working on improving the craft of drumming I picked up at St Faith’s, with Mr Aldous, and pushing on in the studio work I began at Hills Road.
In my spare time at Berklee, I am a part of a Global Drumming Network called Grooversity, where the Boston’s division is called Bloco AfroBrazil. Over the course of the year I have become one of the main leaders in the group, playing Timbau, Caixa and/or Repique. We have featured in shows for Tedx Boston, the Mass Challenge Award Ceremony and more. Grooversity also has their own festival every year and this year I have the honour of helping organize the festival, as well as, hosting a body percussion masterclass.
I successfully auditioned for a band called the Broken Capitals who recently released an EP and we are gigging around the New England area, the band takes influences from artists such as John Mayer, Led Zeppelin and Jimmy Hendrix.
I currently maintain a 3.85 Grade Point Average and was placed on the Dean’s list last semester. I also work for the Berklee Percussion Department as a lab monitor where I was given the opportunity to drum tech for drummers such as Aaron Spears (Usher’s drummer) and David Mattacks (Drummed for Elton John and Jimmy Page).
My time at St. Faith’s was invaluable thanks to the well appreciated music department and especially Mr Aldous. I still feel he’s been the best percussion teacher I’ve had. St Faith’s is often referred to as one of the best schools in Cambridge and it’s no wonder; music, for me, started at St Faith’s and I can’t thank the staff there enough for putting me where I am today.
I am where I want to be and I’m thankful to St Faith’s for helping me get here.”
