Holly Prest is a percussionist, director and facilitator based in Manchester, UK. With over 25 years of experience, Holly’s dedication to music, rhythms and cultures from around the world has led her to translate all of this knowledge into her passion for performing and teaching. Since 2004, she has completed multiple study trips focusing on cross-arts Carnival forms in Brazil, Cuba, and Trinidad & Tobago.

Holly is Artistic Director of Carnival and outdoor arts organisation Global Grooves, and has performed all over the world with the team including Qatar, Croatia, Nigeria, and The Gambia. She leads percussion and dance collective Juba do Leão, and is director of youth music and dance outfit Jubacana. As a percussionist with trio Skutch Manos, she performed around the UK sharing her energetic and unique style of multi-percussion playing, and from autumn 2024 is looking forward to a short run of long-awaited gigs with the band. Holly is one of the drummers of the 90s dance ravers, Mr Wilson’s Second Liners. On occasion, she also covers herself in sequins to perform with Girls That Mix.

As well as performing, Holly is a very experienced workshop facilitator, sharing her extensive knowledge of the music and song of North East Brazil. She also offers one-to-one instrumental lessons in percussion and drum kit. She loves to explore diverse percussion set ups and hybrid drum kits too.

Photo by Dan Wiebe Photography