{{Short description|Australian percussionist and composer}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Bree van Reyk | origin = Australia | website = [https://www.breevanreyk.com www.breevanreyk.com] | past_member_of = Rebel Astronauts | label = | occupation = Composer | genre = | death_place = | death_date = | birth_place = Townsville, Queensland | image = Bree Van Reyk.jpg | birth_date = 1978 | alias = | birth_name = | caption = Bree van Reyk at Hibernian House 2015 | alt = | landscape = | image_size = | instrument = Drums }}

'''Bree van Reyk''' is an Australian percussionist and composer, born in Townsville, Queensland. She is now based in Newcastle.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Lauren Brincat & Bree van Reyk {{!}} MCA Australia|url=https://www.mca.com.au/artists-works/artists/lauren-brincat-bree-van-reyk/|access-date=2022-02-21|website=Museum of Contemporary Art Australia|language=en}}</ref>

== Career == Across her career Bree van Reyk has worked within classical, jazz, rock, and experimental music performances and groups. She has worked with the Australian Chamber Orchestra and Sydney Symphony Orchestra and played with Paul Kelly, Holly Throsby, Gurrumul, Seeker Lover Keeper, Lior, Darren Hanlon, and others.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-11-03|title=Woodwork crafts idea for van Reyk to tap in|url=https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/story/7494146/woodwork-crafts-idea-for-van-reyk-to-tap-in/|access-date=2022-02-21|website=Newcastle Herald|language=en-AU}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Bree Van Reyk|url=https://www.sydney.edu.au/music/industry-and-community/community-engagement/composing-women/bree-van-reyk.html|access-date=2022-02-21|website=The University of Sydney|language=en-AU}}</ref>

As a child, she started learning piano before switching to the drums at age 10 and would practise by playing along to albums by Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Bree van Reyk|url=http://massiveband.club/bree-van-reyk|access-date=2022-02-21|website=MASSIVE BAND|language=en-US}}</ref> She has listed The Velvet Underground's drummer Moe Tucker as an influence.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-10-11|title=Heroes: Bree van Reyk on Moe Tucker|url=https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/musicshow/heroes:-moe-tucker-bree-van-reyk-velvet-underground/11594182|access-date=2022-02-21|website=ABC Radio National|language=en}}</ref> She later studied at the Australian National University School of Music.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|date=2019-04-10|title=Celebrating inspirational women in music|url=https://hercanberra.com.au/city/celebrating-inspirational-women-in-music/|access-date=2022-02-21|website=HerCanberra|language=en-US}}</ref>

During the 1990s and early 2000s she was a member of rock group Rebel Astronauts with Emma Hoy, Matt McBeath, and Tom Roberts. They released three singles and one mini-album, and were likened to Mogwai and Sonic Youth.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Brainwashed - The Rebel Astronauts, "Windmills vs. Shrapnel"|url=http://www.brainwashed.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=297:the-rebel-astronauts-qwindmills-vs-shrapnelq&catid=13:albums-and-singles&Itemid=1|access-date=2022-02-21|website=Brainwashed}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Music|url=http://www.therebelastronauts.com/music.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020609221316fw_/http://www.therebelastronauts.com/music.html |archive-date=2002-06-09 |access-date=2022-02-21|website=The Rebel Astronauts}}</ref>

In 2010 she collaborated with Nick Wales for the soundtrack to dance work ''Happy As Larry.''<ref>{{Cite web|date=2013-09-16|title=Happy as Larry|url=https://www.artshub.com.au/news/reviews/happy-as-larry-196666-2310266/|access-date=2022-02-21|website=ArtsHub Australia|language=en-AU}}</ref> It was later released as an album.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Roberts|first=Aidan|date=2010-07-27|title=BREE VAN REYK & NICK WALES - HAPPY AS LARRY|url=https://cityhubsydney.com.au/2010/07/bree-van-reyk-nick-wales-happy-as-larry/|access-date=2022-02-21|website=City Hub Sydney {{!}} Your Local Independent News|language=en-AU}}</ref>

She was artist in residence at Campbelltown Arts Centre in 2015 where she collaborated with artist Kate McIntosh on ''In Stereo.''<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web|last=Thomas|first=Sarah|date=2015-10-13|title=Bree van Reyk launches school of rock for girls – and it's massive|url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/bree-van-reyk-launches-school-of-rock-for-girls--and-its-massive-20151013-gk7j42.html|access-date=2022-02-21|website=The Sydney Morning Herald|language=en}}</ref> The two musicians performed their piece sitting back-to-back, playing on a variety of percussive instruments and found objects.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Sykes|first=Jill|date=2015-08-29|title=In Stereo review: An imperfect balance of dance and music|url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/dance/in-stereo-review-an-imperfect-balance-of-dance-and-music-20150830-gjav5n.html|access-date=2022-02-21|website=The Sydney Morning Herald|language=en}}</ref>

In 2019 she created a new piece for the Canberra Youth Orchestra which was performed at that years Canberra International Music Festival.<ref name=":1" />

In 2020 she partnered with the Sydney Chamber Opera for her opera ''The Invisible Bird'' as part of the University of Sydney's Composing Women program.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-08-25|title=Bree van Reyk: Invisible Bird|url=https://www.abc.net.au/classic/programs/new-waves/bree-van-reyk-invisible-bird/12594564|access-date=2022-02-21|website=ABC Classic|language=en}}</ref> The opera was presented online due to COVID-19 restrictions in place at the time.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-04-24|title=Anzac voices in song, and breaking operatic glass|url=https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/musicshow/anzac-songs-chloe-jason-roweth-new-opera-work-bree-van-reyk/12177346|access-date=2022-02-21|website=ABC Radio National|language=en-AU}}</ref>

She contributed percussion on Nat Bartsch's album ''Hope'', which was nominated for an ARIA Award in 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|title=2021 ARIA Awards - nominees announced : News (Australian) Article : Australian Music Centre|url=https://www.australianmusiccentre.com.au/article/2021-aria-awards-nominees-announced|access-date=2022-02-21|website=www.australianmusiccentre.com.au}}</ref>

Her debut album is due for release in 2022 on the independent label Hobbledehoy. It will feature Mick Turner and Jim White of Dirty Three.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Bree van Reyk {{!}} HOBBLEDEHOY|url=https://hobbledehoyrecords.com/artists/bree-van-reyk/|access-date=2022-02-21|language=en-AU}}</ref> The first song ''Superclusters, Pt. II'' was released in January 2022.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Superclusters, Pt. II, by Bree van Reyk|url=https://breevanreyk.bandcamp.com/track/superclusters-pt-ii|access-date=2022-02-21|website=Bandcamp|language=en}}</ref>

== External links ==

* {{Discogs artist|437431}} * [https://www.theletterstringquartet.com/blog/bree-van-reyk Interview with Bree van Reyk] (2016)

== References == {{reflist}} {{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:van Reyk, Bree}} Category:Living people Category:Australian percussionists Category:1978 births Category:Australian women musicians