Caleb Garfinkel
kay-leb gah-fin-kel (BMus Hons, MA MusPerf)

n. One engaged in the act of musical
creation, discussion and education.

Caleb Garfinkel describes himself as ‘one engaged in the act of musical creation, discussion and education’ – as the term ‘musician’ was just too limiting. An adaptable and versatile guitarist, singer, composer, arranger, teacher and scholar, Caleb never quite feels he’s doing enough.

Equally comfortable on an electric, acoustic or classical guitar Caleb plays a wide variety of musical styles, including jazz, classical, folk, funk, flamenco, gypsy jazz, pop, rock, minimalism, electronica, R&B and country. When not touring and performing in multiple projects around metropolitan and regional Victoria, Caleb composes, arranges and musical directs musicals and cabaret shows, and researches ways to incorporate the guitar with his many musical interests.

The past few years have seen Caleb perform in many different scenarios, including rock and pop bands, flamenco/Irish groups, minimal jazz bands, acoustic cover duos, large Motown revues, funk trios and musical orchestras. His first love however will always be the unaccompanied sound of guitar strings, and he is constantly finding ways to create as much music as possible on a single guitar. Caleb’s playing has featured on several music releases, including his 2007 singer/songwriter release Frogs in my Head.

Caleb completed a Bachelor of Music (Performance) at Victoria University in 2009, and went on to complete Honours at Monash University in 2010, and Master of Arts (Music Performance) by research, exploring Digital Signal Processing of the guitar in a live performance context. These studies saw research trips to Prato, Italy, and San Francisco, California where he studied with long time hero and thesis subject Christopher Willits.

In 2013 he took up the role of Musical Director at KaDo Warehouse alongside Butterfly Club founder Matthew Grant. Together they co-wrote their flagship cabaret show Honey Pot. Since he has pivoted primarily to musical theatre, directing music for StageArt‘s Australian Premiere of The Color Purple, and will be reprising his title for their 2017 production of Spring Awakening.

He has since worked regularly as MD and composer with Melbourne entertainment icon Dolly Diamond, as well as other Melbourne acts including Adele Scott, Andi Snelling, Thando, and improvised comedy troupes The Big Hoo-Haa and Soothplayers Improvised Shakespeare.

With a desire to create beautiful and lyrical music, Caleb Garfinkel brings a supreme degree of musicality and wide array of influences to every incarnation of his performing self – whether as a cover musician, singer/songwriter, solo guitar player, session musician, musical director or band member.

2017

Heathers – Guitar – Altona City Theatre

Spring Awakening – MD/Guitar – StageArt

Hairspray – MD/Guitar – Ave Maria College

Soothplayers: Completely Improvised Shakespeare – Mandolin – MICF (ongoing)

The Big Hoo-Haa – MD/Guitar (ongoing)

2016

Frock Hudson – Melba Spiegeltent – Midsumma

Saturday Night Fever – Guitar/Bass – StageArt

In The Heights – Guitar – StageArt

The Big Hoo-Haa: Cliffhanger – MICF

Soothplayers: Completely Improvised Shakespeare – MICF, Melb Fringe Festival

Tick… Tick… Boom! – Guitar – Pursued By Bear

Dolly Diamond’s Christmas in July 2016 – MD/Guitar – Melba Spiegeltent

First Date – Guitar – Pursued By Bear

The Color Purple – MD/Guitar – StageArt

2015

In The Heights – Bass – StageArt

Dolly Diamond Under a Big Top – Musical Director, Guitar – Melba Spiegeltent

Honey Pot – Musical Director, Composer, Guitar – KaDo Warehouse (ongoing)

The Big Hoo-Haa Melbourne – Guitar, Musician – The Butterfly Club (ongoing)

Dreamgirls – Guitar – StageArt

A Super Brady Cabaret – Guitar – StageArt

Feminerd: A Cabaret – MD/Arranger/Engineer – Adele Scott

Transcend – Composer/Sound Design – Jessi Lewis

Soothplayers: Completely Improvised Shakespeare – Mandolin (ongoing)

The Wiz – MD/Guitar – Ave Maria College

2014

The Big Hoo-Haa Melbourne – Guitar, Musician – Portland Hotel

Chess – Guitar – Catchment Players

Haven – Composer, Sound Design – Jessi Lewis

Honey Pot – Musical Director, Composer, Guitar – KaDo Warehouse

MWorld – Project Manager, Composer, Audio Production – Monash University

2013

MWorld – Project Manager, Composer, Audio Production – Monash University

Hospital Soundscape – Sound Designer – Alfred Hospital, Melbourne

Fame – Guitar  – Ave Maria College

2012

Aladdin – Arranger – Sunbury Downs Secondary College

Museum Comedy Tour – Composer, Production – Melbourne International Comedy Festival

Pageant – Guitar  – SHooSH! Productions

2011

The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas – Guitar, Lapsteel – Catchment Players

The Magical Oak Tree – Musical Director, Composer, Guitar – The Puppet Box

The Theme From – Composer, Production, Guitarist – 72 Hour Film Festival

Cabaret – Banjo, Guitar – Catchment Players

Michael Leunig support 2012 with Joel Spence

Daryl Braithwaite – November 2012

Micheal Leunig – April 2012, 2009

John Clarke – 2009, & with Brian Dawe – 2012

James Reyne – September 2011

The Black Sorrows – July 2011

The Angels – November 2010

Jon Stevens – October 2010

dis’pers – Guitar, Laptop (2013 – Current) – Electronic, Ambient, Minimal

Honey Pot – Musical Director, Guitar, Vocals (2013 – Current) – KaDo Warehouse – Cabaret

Kerang Jefferson Quartet – Guitar (2013 – Current) – Cinematic, Chamber, Electronica

Freya Bennett – The Possibility of Falling – Guitar, Vocals – Melbourne Fringe Festival (2013) – Folk, Pop

Spence & Garfinkel – Guitar, Vocals (2010 – Current) – Acoustic Rock and Pop covers

Risen Ember (2011 – Current) – Contemporary Rock, Melodic, Pop

Circulation – Guitar (2010 – Current) – Jazz, Minimalism, Ambient

Funk Soul Brother – Guitar, Bandleader (2011-2012) – Funk, Soul, Motown Tribute

Aindrias di Staic – Guitar (2010-2012) – Flamenco, Celtic, Gypsy Jazz

Joel Spence & the Mercury Drive – Guitar, vocals (2010-2011) – Rock, Blues

Obsession – Guitar, lead vocals – (2010) – Pop, Rock, Metal Showcase

Erin Shay – Guitar (2009 – 2010) – Pop

Caleb Garfinkel & the Dreaded Nomads – Guitar, vocals, songwriter (2007-2009) – Pop, Folk, Jazz