News

Balkan band Op Sa! is producing a new rap song in collaboration with young Romani Gypsy rapper Azza about the Calais and refugee crisis.

The band was formed at Trinity Laban by alumnus Stefan Melovski as part of CoLab, Trinity Laban’s annual festival of collaboration and innovation. CoLab sees our music and dance staff and students join forces to make new work-in-progress; a celebration of creativity, experimentation, and shared learning.

Op Sa! features numerous Trinity Laban alumni, including Maša Mujic, Eve Wieltschnig (both Clarinet), Lily Carassik Whitfield, Nick Armstrong, James Docherty (all Trumpet), Hannah Dilkes, Rosie Turton (both Trombone), Thomas Kelly(Tuba), Peter Bennett, Stefan Melovski (both Guitar) and Olly Sarkar (Drums).

Bringing their own passionate brand of Balkan music, Op Sa! is a blend of wild beats, gypsy flair and modern sound. They have performed at prestigious venues such as the Royal Festival Hall alongside the London Philharmonic Orchestra, as well as being one of the featured headliners at the Lancaster Music Festival 2015.

This year’s CoLab will proudly welcome artists from around the globe to share their artistic practice with students and to exchange ideas with Trinity Laban staff. We are hosting students from across Europe in the Brexchange Jazz Orchestra and welcoming dancers from the Taiwan University of the Arts.

Please visit the CoLab page for more information.

Op Sa! hope to raise funds for The Hummingbird Project, which is working with refugees in Calais, Dunkirk and Brighton. To make a donation, visit their band camp page. You can also watch them on YouTube.