Valla Beach Ukulele Camp TUTORS for 2025
Accidentally on Purpose Maleny Qld
Accidentally On Purpose are a trio of young, talented ukulele players from the Sunshine Coast Hinterland, driven by the gorgeous vocals and rhythm playing of Shelby and the interweaving melody lines of Siena and Lexie. AOP play intricate arrangements of classic rock and pop tunes and their own well-crafted originals. With the addition of Tom Richter on ukulele, bass and harmonica, this is an act not to be missed - accidentally or on purpose!
Anne Keogh Urunga NSW
I am a musician and a music teacher with over 30 years experience. Until last year I was based
on the Northern Beaches of Sydney. I finally saw the light, and now call Urunga home.
Trained classically as a child on piano and violin, I later took up guitar and bass in my teens,
then later ukulele as my interest in popular/rock music developed.
The bass ukulele is a relatively new instrument, both in it’s invention and my taking it on. But as
it is a miniature version of a bass guitar, it was a simple matter of transferring skills I already had
to a smaller stage.
For 18 years I was the bass player for the Lightly Strung Orchestra (a ukulele group based on
Sydney’s Northern Beaches. For 9 years I was also the bass player for a ukulele group called the
Outlaws which went on to become the Australian Ukulele Orchestra.
I am loving living on the Mid North Coast. It is an area full of a love of all the arts.
Betty France and Cate Jardine Melbourne (sophisticateandbetty)
sophisticateandbetty are an ambush wrapped in sweet harmony. You are cordially invited to peek into the world of these two seemingly nice ladies. Curious? Even curiouser.
Entrenched in the world of folk they deliver a delicate but unbreakable blend of ukuleles and tightly entwined voices. Betty France and Cate Jardine will take you on a rollercoaster ride of silly words that pack a punch. Their penchant for the whimsical and offbeat will have you laughing and crying in the same set. Sometimes in the same song.
Their mythical tale ‘The Girl From Mokoan” was charming enough to be selected as a finalist in the Roddy Reed Songwriting Award as part of the Maldon Folk Festival in 2022.
Hailing from Melbourne they have performed at several MUF’s as well as headlining at HUF 2022 (Hills Ukulele Festival), Island View Ukulele Festival in Opotiki, New Zealand and at music/folk festivals, venues and art galleries around Victoria. Their popular ukulele workshops are a staple at Fiddlers Festival and Kelly Country Pick.
Chris Waite, Uke Warriors & UkestraSA, Adelaide SA
From Adelaide, Chris studied Music Performance at Norwood High School and in 1985 he won the SA Young Composers Award in with a work written for piano and 4 voices. After graduating from Flinders Medical School in 1994 he spent several years working for the Royal Flying Doctor Service in Central Australia. In 2007 he moved to Beachport, where he continued working as a GP until 2012.
He completed a Certificate 4 in Audio Engineering in 2002 and a Bachelor of Creative Arts (USQ) in 2018, majoring in music composition.
In 2015 he joined the Beachport Ukulele Group (BUGS), learnt to play ukulele and completed Level 3 Training with the James Hill Ukulele Initiative. He teaches group and private ukulele lessons and workshops, and is the musical director for UkestraSA, a community ukulele orchestra.
When not playing ukulele, Chris is a meditator, and amateur astrophotographer.
Cynthia Sleight-Meyles Newcastle
Cynthia Sleight Meyles (Original Cyn) has been writing songs for five years. Last year Cyn was nominated for the prestigious Rudy Brandsma Award for Songwriting Excellence (Australian Songwriters Association Competition 2024). Cyn performs her originals both solo, as Original Cyn, and also with the Australian Ukulele Orchestra. This year, Cyn recorded her second album of originals, Shades of Grey, and has distilled her songwriting techniques into a fun, interactive workshop.
Jane Jelbart and Mark Jackson Newcastle (Jac n Jel, Mac n Wal)
Jack n Jel (not their real names) are a rare commodity: performers who can teach, teachers who can perform. They are multi-instrumentalists (guitar, bass, banjo, and trumpet) but particularly ukulele. On stage they are joined by Ruth McCrae and John Wallace to make Jack n Jel, Mac n Wal, a four piece vocal harmony strong band that creates original music and reinvents the songs they love. Their music varies from folk, to country to Latin to even prog rock!!! Try and fit them into one genre if you can.
At home Mark and Jane (their real names) run 8 weekly ukestra/choir sessions, and they also have built an international reputation for ukestration workshops, helping community ukulele groups to develop their musicianship and joy beyond hum n strum. They deliver festival ukulele workshops that engage both beginner and experienced players in fun and dynamic arrangements of contemporary songs.
John Wallace Newcastle (Jac n Jel, Mac n Wal)
John Wallace is a young musician hailing from Newcastle. He's had over a decade of experience teaching uke, bass, singing and general musicianship. He has played in a variety of formats and genres including orchestras, musicals, jazz bands, rock and metal outfits and choirs. He's excited to get a chance to meet and play with some amazing teachers and musicians at Valla Beach, and hopefully shed a bit of light on the wide world of bass playing.
Lindy Sardelic Sydney (Lindy and the Loose Units)
Under construction
Ruth McCrae Newcastle (Jac n Jel, Mac n Wal)
Hailing now from Newcastle, Ruth happily spends her time as a music teacher, singer/ songwriter and ukulele playing member of Jack’n’Jel. Ruth has had many music highlights which include singing with Café of the Gate of Salvation for almost 10 years under the choir leadership of Tony Backhouse. Performing highlights include Womadelaide, The National Folk Festival and Newcastle’s own Newkulele Festival! Ruth cannot remember any day from about the age of 3 where she has not sung or played music.
Sam Lemann Melbourne (Sam Lemann and the Cocktail Lounge)
Sam’s interest in the Ukulele and Hawaiian music began way back in Perth the early 80’s. He spent many years playing with Steel Guitar ace Lucky Oceans and together they formed their first Hawaiian band, many years before the current Ukulele revival. He has since developed a sweet jazzy island sound, a result his annual visits to Hawaii since 2008.
Sam has studied with islands greats including Byron Yasui, Benny Chong, Kimo Hussey, Herb Ohta Jnr and slack key guitar masters Cyril Pahinui, George Kuo and Jeff Peterson. You will also find him sitting in with many local Waikiki bands - the best way to learn!
A regular tutor at festivals, Sam loves to share his passion for Hawaiian flavoured jazz or (jazz flavoured Hawaiian) and carefully chooses repertoire that has you running to the bar for an expensive cocktail!. “I was hugely inspired but an album I heard about 45 years ago, “Mungo Plays Ukulele”. Highly recommended listening for any workshop attendees!
Tom Richter Maleny QLD
Tom Richter is a Sunshine Coast-based performer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and music teacher who has conducted acclaimed ukulele workshops at many of Australia’s biggest festivals. Tom is also the driving force behind the groups Accidentally on Purpose and Maleny Ukulele.
