Zela Papageorgiou is a Melbourne-based percussionist whose practice focuses on contemporary, classical and experimental music.

She is particularly drawn to performing compositions that include elements of improvisation and open instrumentation with traditional and non-traditional percussion instruments. Zela’s practice also involves working with graphic scores and developing contrasting interpretations of visual notation.

Zela has recently begun exploring the use of repurposed objects and materials to create custom built instruments for performance. She believes that using repurposed materials, familiar or foreign, allows experimental percussion to reach a wider audience beyond the New Music and sound art communities. These objects form a stronger and more personal connection to the audience, adding significance and context within a performance to resonate with new and diverse audiences.

Zela is a graduate of the University of Melbourne, Melbourne Conservatorium of Music, completing a Bachelor of Music with first class honours in 2016 under the tuition of Peter Neville, and attended the Australian National Academy of Music in 2017.