Person to Person: It started off with an egg shaker in the Ballincollig Concert Band... now I'm a full time percussionist and drummer

Tell us about yourself:

Born and raised in Cork, I’m a full time freelance percussionist and drummer. It started off with an egg shaker in the Ballincollig Concert Band when I was four or five years old.

Where were you born?

Cork.

Where do you live?

Dun Laoghaire.

Family?

Parents: Paul Frost and Catherine Janeczek-Frost.

Sisters: Deirdre, a painter/artist married to Stephen Kelly, Sinéad a bassoonist/arranger.

Brother: Paul, a bass trombonist/composer/arranger/father of two nieces I absolutely adore along with their mother Mia Cooper.

I have fantastically ive aunts and uncles who helped me out big time during pandemic chaos - storing my belongings and even housing me for a while.

Best friend?

My family, Claire Horgan who I grew up with, AND percussionist Maeve O’Hara are my go to people for the craic and advice!

Earliest childhood memory?

Myself and sister Sinéad on the ‘Jackydaw’, a rocking chair. When I look at it now, we must have been very young to both fit comfortably on it! I Sinéad protesting when I stretched my hand across in front of her, reaching for the opposite arm/handle. I explained it was her seatbelt… but actually it was to give me the best position for optimum propulsion.

Another memory around this time was Dad playing Roy Orbison’s You Got It on vinyl. It didn’t matter what I was doing, when that track came on I would down tools and dance around the sitting room like a lunatic.

Person you most ire?

Evelyn Glennie. At 19 years old she knew she wanted to be a solo percussionist and pretty much invented the solo classical percussion genre and is responsible for commissioning and writing so many new works. I attended a Music Network talk she did recently and you just feel elevated by her creative thoughts and positivity on everything!

Person who most irritates you?

A person who abuses power/privilege.

Where was your most memorable holiday?

Cuba with pals, now referred to as ‘The Cuba Girls’.

Favourite TV programme?

Bad Sisters was very entertaining! Actually, a new series came out recently on BBC1, The Following Events are Based On A Pack of Lies, which we did some sessions for in Windmill Lane last summer.

Composer Arthur Sharpe approached Alex Petcu and we performed with Bangers and Crash with Patrick Nolan.

Favourite radio show?

Culture File, Lyric FM.

Your signature dish if cooking?

Thai green curry.

Favourite restaurant?

Any good sushi place.

Last book you read?

Sorrow and Bliss, by Meg Mason. When the Drummers Were Women, by Layne Redmond is one that I keep to hand, so much history and interesting facts.

Best book you read?

I would say Life of Pi, by Yann Martel, made the biggest impression on me in my early 20s.

What is the last song you added to your Spotify playlist?

Muireann Ní Shé has a recent single release on Bandcamp. Check out Cormac McCarthy and Karl Nesbitt while you’re there! Best way to artists.

Favourite song?

On the Street Where You Live.

One person you would like to see in concert?

I’m raging I missed Beyoncé’s Renaissance tour. And Björk Orkestral.

Do you have a pet?

No.

Morning person or night owl?

Definitely not a morning person.

Your proudest moment?

Chuffed to have started recording for my debut album. It’s a very different experience curating and performing your own work.

Spendthrift or saver?

Both. I have to keep myself in check in the career I’m in and the temptation to buy new instruments. My mother encourages me that a little “wild abandon” (splurge) is necessary every now again to feel vibrant and free!

Name one thing you would improve in your area in which you live?

Dun Laoghaire baths to be made into proper swimming pools. It would be amazing if Phoenix Park had swimming ponds.

What makes you happy?

Swimming: sea dips, pool lengths, lakes, ponds, etc.

How would you like to be ed?

Authenticity is important to me, and that I tried not to hurt anyone.

What else are you up to at the moment?

September is a busy month with the Irish Chamber Orchestra’s opera Flight by Jonathan Dove, two recitals with Alex Petcu, RTÉ Concert Orchestra Bonny Light Horseman, Faust with Irish National Opera, all rolling into October with Junk Ensemble dance company at the RHA with Aideen Barry, Jesse Jones, and Vicky Langan. I’ll be playing percussion solos and to tracks by Irene Buckley.

Caitríona Frost performs with Alex Petcu in the first concert of the Spotlight Chamber Music Series in Triskel Arts Centre on Saturday, September 16 at 1pm. Tickets from www.triskelartscentre.ie