Jacob Abela is a keyboardist and composer specialising in experimental performance. Described as performing ‘like electricity…as if possessed by a musical demon’ (Theatre People), Jacob is the keyboardist for Melbourne ensemble Rubiks Collective, and regularly works with leading Australian and international arts organisations. Jacob’s compositional practise investigates transformation, memory, euphoria, and collaboration.
In 2022, Jacob is the keyboardist for the national tour of While You Sleep by Kate Neal and Sal Cooper. In February, Jacob performed two of his works with percussionist Kaylie Melville (Speak Percussion, Rubiks Collective) at Homophonic! BYOB, an annual series in Midsumma Festival dedicated to queer contemporary music.
Jacob has performed as a soloist with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and Australian World Orchestras and performs regularly as orchestral pianist with the MSO. Jacob has also worked extensively in vocal music and opera, including his current role as Chorus Repetiteur for the MSO Chorus, and working as repetiteur for several Victorian Opera productions.
