2011 Annual Newsletter

some of the parts . newsletter of the sum of the parts (music) incorporating newcastle ukestras SUMMER 2011 - 2012 The Year in Retrospect What a wonderful 2011 it was for all the different activities that make up The Sum of the Parts (music). The year went so quickly and yet so much has happened. Most of the activity centred on the Ukestras, but also involved other musical projects, training and professional development. I find it very important to reflect on the past year, and also to say thank you and to acknowledge those Ukestrans on the waterfront at the Karuah River of Music Festival in May who have helped. With our success comes some extra challenges too, Introducing 150+ people and I will also flag those. Mark Jackson to the uke in 2011! The Ukestra year started with a bang – eighteen people attended 2012 our first dedicated Beginners Workshop in January 2011. Over So far this year we are looking the year we ran nine Saturday workshops at the Five Islands forward to: Recreation Club, introducing about 150 people to the joys (or February not!) of the uke. Some joined our Ukestras – for others one Blue Mountains Ukulele Festival go was enough. We also ran an all day workshop for Hunter March Community College (HCC) and will run three more in 2012 (first Melbourne Ukulele Festival one in February) as well as monthly two-hour workshops when Australia’s Got Talent audition we aren’t doing the HCC thingumie. July Ukulele Entrée Ukulele Festival Hawaii In November over 30 people participated in a Beginner’s Ukulele NEWKULELE FESTIVAL Class, with Jane, Mark and Danielle doing the teaching. As Jane Newcastle’s first ukulele festival, & I were ‘full to the noo’ (as Jane would say), we asked Danielle being organised and run by to take a new class. 20 people enrolled in ‘Ukulele Entrée’ which Ukestrans, has been scheduled for is a six week course designed to build uke playing skills through 26-28 October 2012. introducing participants to existing Ukestra repertoire. 70 people Keep in touch at did the January 2012 workshop, so we are running three Entrée www.newkulelefestival.org courses from the end of January, and perhaps expanding the number of Ukestras! As anyone who has been around the different groups knows, each Ukestra has its own character (and foibles!). The smaller groups enjoy more individual attention whilst the larger groups seem to develop what can only be described as pizzazz. Swings and roundabouts really. and I admire the independence The LMU formed the backbone of that they constantly demonstrate. several community performances Uke has contributed to their including Melbourne Cup Day at willingness to meet and socialise the Five Islands, the Toronto Boat with new people (“there are Fest, the Morisset Blind Society and at various aged hostels. Much UPDATES thanks to Margaret Weaver who was instrumental in organising a number of these. West Newkestra We were very sad during the The beginner’s classes were year to lose one of our stalwarts, going so well that it started to Joy Bryce, who was a mainstay look like unbalancing things in of the Newcastle Jazz scene and the regular Ukestras, so Jane in her last year found a real love started up Thursday nights in no strangers here, only people for Tuesday afternoons and the March. WestNewkestra regularly we haven’t uked with yet”??), LakeMacUkestra. gets between 20-30 people of a and they play regularly at local Thursday and is emphasising community events. And! They Maitland singing as well as uke (of course!). have their own website (see the The Maitland Ukestra has been What started as a group for link through ukestra.com). We patchy in attendance with some newbies has quickly grown to be are grateful to the Fingal Bay ‘hmmmmm’ periods. However it a rival to the Tuesday nights – yet Sports Club (particularly Mick seems like my extended absence another reason for the Ukulele and Rob who look after us) for in July / August injected new life Entrée course. hosting us each Monday morning into the inland gathering (huh?). A particular boost came when “there are no strangers here, only people we I was invited to speak at the Dungog Chamber of Commerce haven’t uked with yet” (East Gresford Chapter). This engagement (with able musical where we sit in the gorgeous The swiftly named West assistance from Bob Beale & Newkestra group (colloquially outside area joined occasionally Patty Steele) attracted some known as “Jane’s Novitiates”) by kookaburras, kangaroos, early new ornery reprobates from was convened at the hitherto morning drinkers and gamblers, the Paterson Valley. Numbers unknown Water Board Bowling black cockatoos and FA18s. have also been boosted by the Club. I hadn’t counted on the Many from the Tomaree mob expanding presence of the Dixon group and Jane’s leadership also come down to the Ukastle family. We still owe much thanks being such a good match. They Ukestra each week. to the Grand Junction Hotel for quickly came up to speed with their intimate (and dimly lit) a bunch of different songs that LakeMac venue which is always delightful Jane brought in, culminating in The LakeMacUkestra has been on a Monday evening. a performance for Newcastle going since early 2010, and The Maitland Ukestra has not L!vesites in November. With continues to cater for those who yet made its presence fully felt some help from regular Ukastle live in the west of the Lake and in the area even though we have Ukestrans, they enthralled the who have time in the middle undertaken a couple of gigs crowd that had gathered to see (including New Year’s Eve last year of the day. They are a cheeky, Afro Moses. and a breast cancer fundraiser). feisty bunch who give me back Maybe they just like staying at as much as I give out. Lindsay Tomaree home and in their local village Young and the staff at the Five The Tomaree Ukestra has been hotels writing silly songs (I’m Islands Recreation Club at Speers very active and consistent this looking at you Bob and Linda). year, but has also been growing. Point have been very generous At the beginning of the year there both for hosting us, listening to Ukastle were never more than 10 people. us, and allowing us to run our The Ukastle Ukestra has been a Now it is more like 15 people Beginners Workshops there. Our constant fount of entertainment, coming along each week. I feel only complaint is Lindsay’s sense interest and surprises, not like I know the ins and outs of this of humour, which he occasionally to mention some damn fine community so much better now, insists on foisting upon us. performances at festivals. It also hosts out-of-town guests who gathering in Stockton; the Tighes Young’uns occasionally turn up to contribute Hill mob gather about monthly in 2011 saw a consolidation of to the fun. someone’s backyard, and Michael uke teaching at Waratah & Tuesday night is the centrepiece Sheridan (who was at our first Cardiff South Public Schools, of rehearsals for significant sessions – see ukeonman.com) with the kids doing a couple of performances, and all are willing has started a regular session participants in my fanciful ideas down at Murray’s Beach (south performances. Teaching children about contemporary songs that of Swansea) of a Sunday. is wonderful, though at times may or may not be easily tackled Some of our members (inc. Chris, my disciplinary skills required by the uke and our singing Lyndall, Michael and Joan) have some honing. Thanks to Anna prowess. After all the efforts done some fantastic ukulele Swanson & Chris Swain for their they put in for Hawaii, Dennis & outreach at the Soul Café, which dedication to expanding music Paula Browne decided to take an has introduced the joys of the uke and ukulele education in their extended break from Ukestra. We to people who would otherwise schools. And especial thanks to miss them, but wish them well. not have that opportunity. Suzy Gallagher who put in so Thanks also must go to Pavo of Thanks... much effort helping me with her the Croatian Club - as manager, grandchild’s class and others at I’d particularly like to thank the bookkeeper, barman and Cardiff South (and teaching me Newcastle and Hunter Valley comptroller of the air conditioning Folk Club for their support as something about discipline). I amongst many other duties, he well as the many people who am looking forward to the new has been incredibly supportive assist with and contribute so school year which will also not just of the Ukestra but much to the Ukestras – you know see the commencement of an the related activities such as who you are (‘cause I can’t fit all after school Kids Ukestra (in pre-Ukestra practices, Ukulele your names in!!). Charlestown). Entrée and the Christmas Party. Other happenings Performances An extraordinary development Tuesday nights have included has been the starting up of impromptu performances from a Ukestra in Tea Gardens by a local South American family, Mick and Nikki Legge. It is Tom the Pom (percussionist), extraordinary because they Andrea Soler, and of course started in May and now, in a AJ Leonard & Jenny, and Bosko town with a population of less & Honey. than 1500 they get between 20 and 30 people of a Wednesday But the formal Ukestra performances have been highlights – night at the Tea Gardens Hotel, Melbourne Ukulele Festival in February (culminating in the drawing people from Bulahdelah awarding of the Golden Ukulele - see photo above), Hawaii in July, and Stroud as well as the north BUMS’ Brisbane Ukulele Festival in September, the Australia’s side of Port Stephens.

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